Super-fit former Navy diver dad unable to walk or talk after he is struck by stroke
NOW HIS SON IS TAKING PART IN GRUELLING CHALLENGE TO RAISE MONEY IN HIS HONOUR
A DEVASTATED Derbyshire man has told how his super-fit Falklands veteran dad suddenly suffered a stroke that left him unable to walk and talk.
Denis Gorman, 61, was struck down while staying with his girlfriend in Gran Canaria.
Denis’s son, Matt, who lives in Newhall, said he went through “multiple stages of shock” when he found out what had happened and rushed out to Spain to see him. The 26-yearold said he “didn’t really know what was happening” when he first got the call.
Matt, who works in Castle Donington as an aerospace engineer, described his dad as remarkable and said he loved adventure.
He said: “Dad’s a great bloke. He’s retired and he loves sailing more than anything. He served in the Navy during the Falklands. He was also a chef and a Navy diver. He was always adventurous, he’s done a bit of everything.
“Once you retire, a lot of people like adventure. I think he took that in his stride. He always had an interest in everything. I think I follow after him in a lot of respects.
“During Covid, I was living in Australia. I came back last December to see the family. That was the last time I saw him before his stroke.”
Matt said his dad had his boat docked in the marina when he had his stroke. He added that some helpful Dutch neighbours were with him when he became ill.
He said: “He had gone for a walk – this was on April 26. The story I was told was that he started getting lost while out there. He made his way back to the marina when he spoke to a Dutch couple that was moored up next to him.
“They spoke to him and they noticed the signs associated with a stroke, like confusion. When he called his girlfriend, his words were slurring. It was then that the couple called an ambulance for him.
“He was taken to hospital and he was there for two to three weeks. “I got a phone call the following day from his girlfriend who told me that ‘things weren’t looking good.’ I went straight out there on the Friday morning.”
Medics at the Spanish hospital told Matt that it was unlikely that his father would ever walk or talk again. They said that the stroke had caused severe brain damage.
Matt said: “I didn’t really know what was happening. The shock kind of hit me in stages. When I first found out I was sat on my bed for about 10 minutes trying to comprehend it. I’m still in a bit of a daze to be honest. It is wearing me down.
“He came back to England about two or three weeks later. He’s living in Cornwall with his girlfriend. I visit when I can.
“He’s started to walk again, which is remarkable given what we saw at the time. His speech still has a long way to go. He’s making progress.”
Matt, who is originally from Rugby, has been running five kilometers every day this month, even during last week’s hot weather, to raise money for the Stroke Association. He said he was not a fan of the challenge to begin with, but finds his dad’s progress helps to motivate him.
He said: “I hate running. I used to do a bit of cycling. My mate Adam does park runs so I thought I would join in. The weather has been tough recently with the heat. But ultimately, I just want to push myself.
“I’ll see how my dad is doing and that will keep me going.
“I’d really like to mention the Stroke Association. I had a real lack of knowledge on strokes – I didn’t know the first thing. I’m lucky to have a great support network of friends and family, but I lacked the actual facts. They were absolutely fantastic in their support.”
To donate to Matt’s fund-raiser, visit www.gofundme.com/f/5k-aday-for-the-stroke-assosiation
He’s started to walk again, which is remarkable given what we saw at the time.
Matt Gorman