South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust is urging people not to dismiss the signs of stroke after a Portsmouth teenager suffered a life-changing stroke at the age of just 15.
Finley Butcher was looking forward to playing his first match for East Lodge Football Club in July last year when his mum, Kelly, found him collapsed behind his bedroom door, unable to move or speak.
She immediately called 999. The first person to arrive at the family home was a volunteer who responded through the GoodSAM app. They were soon followed by two ambulance crews and a paramedic team leader in a rapid response vehicle.
The team recognised Finley’s symptoms could indicate a stroke and he was taken under blue lights to Queen Alexandra Hospital in Portsmouth for emergency treatment.
Medics at the QA consulted colleagues from University Hospital Southampton’s hyper acute stroke unit. After reviewing Finley’s CT scan, urgent thrombolysis — clot-busting drugs to restore blood flow to the brain — was recommended and carried out. Finley was then transferred under blue lights to the paediatric intensive care unit in Southampton.
He spent seven and a half weeks in hospital. Although he has made remarkable progress, he continues to live with the effects of his stroke almost a year later.
Kelly said: “One of the things we’ve heard time and time again is, ‘he’s too young to have a stroke’. The reality is that stroke can happen to anyone. We never imagined it could happen to our healthy, sporty 15-year-old son.
“If sharing Finley’s story helps even one person recognise the signs of stroke and seek help quickly, then it’s worth it.”
Duncan Robertson, chief paramedic at South Central Ambulance Service, said: “Stroke is a medical emergency and every minute matters. Many people associate stroke with older age, but strokes can affect people of all ages, including children and young adults.
“One of the biggest dangers is when symptoms appear mild or seem to improve. People can be tempted to wait and see if things get better, but a stroke or transient ischaemic attack (TIA), often referred to as a mini stroke, can be an early warning sign and should never be ignored.
“If you notice someone suddenly developing facial weakness, arm weakness or speech problems, call 999 immediately. Even if you’re not completely sure if it’s a stroke, it’s better to seek urgent medical help.”
SCAS is reminding people to use the FAST test: Face, Arms, Speech and Time. If someone’s face has fallen, they cannot raise both arms, or their speech is slurred or confused, call 999 immediately.
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