Kev Seed has told of how the F.A.S.T stroke awareness campaign saved his life.
The legendary Liverpool radio DJ was rushed to hospital after suffering a stroke in July last year while dining at a restaurant when he was taken ill.
His girlfriend Vicki recognised the symptons after seeing the F.A.S.T adverts on TV and immediately called an ambulance.
At Aintree University Hospital, the 48-year-old underwent treatment and rehabilitation with the hospital’s specialist stroke team.
Seed, now presenting on Wirral FM, is calling on people to familiarise themselves with the symptoms as part of the annual campaign into stroke awareness begins.
He said: “My girlfriend noticed that my face had dropped on one side and knew I had to get to a hospital fast.
“She probably saved my life and definitely helped my recovery!
“Act straightaway if you think it might be a stroke, even if you are unsure. Don’t take a chance.”
Approximately 110,000 people have a stroke each year in England. It is the third largest, cause of death, and the largest cause of complex disability; over half of all stroke survivors are left with a disability.
Dr Claire Cullen, Stroke Clinical Director at Aintree who treated Kev said: “Every second counts with stroke and the sooner somebody who is having a stroke gets urgent medical attention, the better their chances of a good recovery.
“If you think someone is showing signs of having a stroke, don’t wait, call an ambulance immediately. You may save their life.”
The FAST campaign is built around the ‘Act F.A.S.T.’ (Face, Arms, Speech, Time) acronym to emphasise the importance of acting quickly by calling 999.
For further information, please visit the Act F.A.S.T website at www.nhs.uk/actfast or NHS Choices at www.nhs.uk.