A 33-Year-Old Man Collapses After Being Hit by a Ball While Playing Soccer... Diagnosed with Stroke

October 29 'World Stroke Day' Story Release
"Stroke Can Occur at Any Age"

A story has drawn attention after a man in the UK was diagnosed with a stroke after being hit in the head by a ball kicked by an opposing player during a soccer match.

The person involved is Tom Hooper, a 33-year-old man living in Brighton, UK. According to reports by the Daily Mail and others on the 30th (local time), last August, while playing 7-a-side soccer near his home, he was struck in the head by a ball kicked by an opposing player, collapsed, and was later diagnosed with a stroke.

According to the media, Hooper temporarily lost his memory at the time and had difficulty speaking. Hooper said, "I couldn't remember people's names," and "I could only say right, left, yes, and no, but nothing else."

Hooper immediately went to the hospital, but after several tests including a language test, the medical staff told him to "rest" and sent him home.

However, his condition continued to worsen, and he returned to the hospital for a brain scan. Yet again, no issues were found, and he was sent home without treatment.

The symptoms became clear on the 10th day after the accident. His right side was paralyzed and he could not move, and he was unable to speak involuntarily. After falling while trying to get out of bed, Hooper was taken to the hospital by paramedics who responded to his mother's call.

This time, the medical staff diagnosed him with a stroke. A stroke refers to neurological symptoms caused by blood vessels being blocked or ruptured due to various causes.

Severe impact to the head can also be a cause. It is presumed that Hooper’s brain blood vessel walls were weakened or blood clotting issues occurred due to the head injury sustained during the game.

Hooper underwent six weeks of stroke treatment followed by two months of rehabilitation. Currently, he can walk holding a cane or railing, and has partially recovered his language ability, but he is still unable to move or speak as he did before the accident.

Hooper said, "I don't know if I will be able to work again. There are jobs I can do sitting down, but because I have difficulty speaking, it is impossible," adding, "The accident has had a huge impact on my life."

Nevertheless, he remains optimistic despite these difficulties and wants to raise awareness about strokes. On October 29, World Stroke Day, he shared his story and continues a campaign to improve awareness that "stroke can happen at any age."

Meanwhile, according to a survey by the Stroke Association UK, more than half of British adults believe that "stroke does not affect young people." However, it is understood that one in four stroke patients are aged 65 or younger.