Surrey stroke survivor says one simple check could save your life

Trevor Cruickshank (right) with his husband Chris
-Credit:Stroke Association


A Haslemere man who missed an important symptom before having a stroke, is warning others to be vigilant. Trevor Cruickshank, was just 43 years old in 2020, when his life was ‘turned upside down’ by a stroke.

Trevor, who owns a local catering business, started to feel “a strange foggy haze of tiredness” while out on a delivery for work. The following day he was convinced to call 111 to seek help. He said: “Within 10 minutes a paramedic was in my house, warning me that I could be having a stroke and that I needed to go to hospital immediately.”

He was rushed to Frimley Park Hospital's stroke unit where he spent three days recovering. The stroke left Trevor with weakness down the right side of his body; he struggled to walk and move his right hand. Brain damage, caused by a stroke, can leave survivors unable to move, see, speak or even swallow.

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Trevor said: “Because of the Covid-19 pandemic, my husband Chris was unable to visit me in hospital. I had to call Chris to explain what was happening, and I remember hearing the pain in his voice as he was reassuring me that we would get through this together.”

Looking back, Trevor realises that one check could have made the difference. He had undiagnosed high blood pressure, and is now passionate about raising awareness in others.

Trevor said: “I count myself very lucky to have made a good recovery after a stroke, even though there have been hard days. Since having the stroke, I’ve found out that relatives have also had strokes but never spoken about it.

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“I’ve realised that a stroke can happen to anyone at any time, but if you are of African or Caribbean origin you may have a higher risk of stroke than other people in the UK.

“I’m now really passionate about raising awareness; I never thought it would happen to me, but I believe it’s so important we all talk about it and share our experiences to help others. One of the most crucial things is to get your blood pressure checked. It could save your life.

“Having the stroke was a huge turning point in my life. It made me realise just how precious life is – how short life is – and how I must live life to the fullest. I’ve spent years wishing and hoping to do things in my life, and my stroke made me realise just how important it is to stop talking about those things, and to do it.”

Trevor Cruickshank
Trevor wants to raise awareness with others about stroke symptoms and one simple check that could save your life -Credit:Stroke Association

Trevor is sharing his story in support of the Stroke Association's Stroke Prevention Day awareness campaign on Thursday, January 30. According to the charity, high blood pressure accounts for half or strokes.

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Nick O’Donohue, the Stroke Association’s associate director for the South East, said: “Around 100,000 people in the UK have a stroke every year. Worryingly, this has been increasing over the last 20 years, particularly amongst people of working age.

“The lives of the 90,000 people who survive stroke every year in the UK change in an instant as the condition impacts on their ability to live physically and mentally well. It is vital that everyone knows what can cause a stroke, so they can proactively look after their health to reduce the risk.

"We’re encouraging adults of any age to get their blood pressure checked on a regular basis. This will equip them with knowledge on whether they are at risk of having a stroke so that they can take steps to reduce their chances, if required.”

Whilst people of any age can have a stroke, it is most likely to impact those over the age of 65. Free blood pressure checks are available from the GP, participating pharmacies, and are also part of NHS health checks for those over the age of 40 in England and Wales.

Stroke symptoms

The NHS highlights three main symptoms of a stroke that can happen suddenly. These include:

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  • face weakness – one side may droop (fall) and it may be hard to smile

  • arm weakness – you may not be able to fully lift both arms and hold them there due to weakness or numbness in one arm

  • speech problems – words may be slurred or may sound confused

Call 999 if you experience any of the above.

Other symptoms of a stroke include:

  • weakness or numbness down one side of the body

  • blurred vision or loss of sight in one or both eyes

  • finding it difficult to speak or think of words

  • confusion and memory loss

  • feeling dizzy or falling over

  • a severe headache

  • feeling or being sick (nausea or vomiting)

Symptoms can stop after a short time but the NHS advises getting medical help even if this does happen. You can find out more from the Stroke Association here