‘Hearts are s***e’: Hibs fan who had stroke uses first words in three months to abuse rival team

A Hibernian fan who was left unable to talk after suffering a stroke shocked nurses by using his first words in three months to brand his team’s bitter rivals, Hearts, “s***e”.

Darren Thomson was left with brain damage after a blood clot the size of a 10p coin caused a bleed on his brain.

Despite an operation to drain the excess fluid from his brain, the stroke left the 22-year-old wheelchair-bound and unable to speak.

However, while recovering at Borders General Hospital, Mr Thomson heard nurses talking about how they supported Hearts, fierce rivals of his beloved Hibs.

He then surprised hospital staff by uttering his first words in more than three months in response: “Hearts are s***e”.

Five months after he regained the ability to talk, Mr Thomson’s speech is still improving and he hopes to be able to walk in time to be best man at his father’s wedding later this year.

“It was so scary not being able to speak,” he said. “It's so hard to put into words what it's like not being able to speak. I was so confused, I didn't even know what was happening or anything.

“But when I had a Hearts doctor looking after me, someone had said ‘what’s Hearts?’ and I just said ‘Hearts are s**te’.

“It just came to me, I was so happy that I spoke out, everyone laughed. “It felt so good to just hear my own voice again.”

Mr Thomson had been at home in Galashiels, in the Scottish Borders, in June last year when he started to feel a severe headache, thinking nothing of it until minutes later the left side of his body went numb.

He was taken to Borders General Hospital, but later transferred to Edinburgh Western General Hospital for additional treatment.

Following 12 weeks in intensive care, he was then transported back to the stroke ward at Borders General in October, where he shocked nurses with his surprise football outburst.

“He made a funny comment about how terrible Hearts were,” said his father, Phil Thomson, 55.

“This was because most of the nurses there were all Hearts fans. We all couldn't believe it, I just laughed.”

Mr Thomson was discharged from hospital and returned home in December. He still uses a wheelchair and requires around-the-clock care from his father, but is positive about his recovery.

“My dad's been unreal. I just think if it wasn't for him I wouldn't be here today,” he added. “I thank him so much for everything he has done”.

Additional reporting by SWNS