A DISABLED man who thought he was going to die after having a stroke has made a fantastic recovery thanks to a revolutionary procedure.

Brendan Wainwright, 54, from Silsden, was rushed to hospital earlier this month after having a life-threatening stroke.

But after the procedure, which has just become available in the district, he made a full recovery and was discharged two days later.

Mr Wainwright, a former labourer who is registered disabled and lives alone, first noticed symptoms when he got pins and needles in his leg at around 11.30am; he called 999 just after noon when he knew something was seriously wrong.

He arrived at Bradford Royal Infirmary just before 1pm, was CT scanned at 1.25pm and at 3.30pm was transferred to Leeds General Infirmary for a mechanical thrombectomy.

He was back at BRI that night, and the next day was deemed to have made a full recovery, and was discharged a day later.

A mechanical thrombectomy is an advanced emergency treatment where the clot is removed from the brain by a neuroradiologist. It can significantly decrease the risk of long-term disability and also save millions of pounds in long-term costs.

Mr Wainwright said: “By the time I got to A&E I thought I was dying. When I saw the serious look on the doctor’s face I got really scared when he said they were sending me to LGI.

“By that stage my speech had gone and I was completely paralysed down the whole of my right side. It was the scariest thing I have ever experienced. I thought I was going to die.

“I went straight on to the bed, into the scanner and then straight into the operating theatre. My feelings down my right side came back almost instantly and my speech started to come back slowly. I was still slurring although that improved hour by hour and it’s now back to normal.

“I am so grateful to the doctors who saved my life.”

Consultant stroke physician Dr Stuart Maguire said: “I am delighted that we have been able to demonstrate that the pathway which allows our patients to access this innovative treatment in Leeds is working well.

“I am thrilled for Brendan because he has received a fast service that has limited the effects of the stroke and we have been able to get him home in the best possible fitness just 48 hours after he had signs of a significant, disabling stroke.

“For Bradford-district patients this means they now have access to the best possible care that the NHS can offer and in turn this dramatically improves their chances of recovering from a stroke.”