A father from Watford has described his terrifying experience of suffering a stroke while on a family holiday in Fuerteventura, which left him in intensive care for six weeks. Scott Ferguson, 53, was on a Boxing Day trip in 2022 with his wife Sam, their seven-year-old son Josh, and other relatives when he suddenly fell ill.
Ferguson recalled feeling disoriented while brushing his teeth, and his wife watched as the left side of his body slumped and his face drooped. She immediately recognised the signs of a stroke and rushed to get help from neighbours, who called an ambulance. Ferguson was airlifted from Fuerteventura to Gran Canaria for critical care.
During the ordeal, Ferguson said he feared he would die. He spent six weeks recovering in the Canary Islands before being flown back to Watford General Hospital. He described the emotional moment of breathing fresh air after being confined to a hospital bed for weeks.
Doctors later confirmed that the stroke was caused by an undiagnosed patent foramen ovale (PFO), a hole in the heart, which allowed a clot to travel to his brain. He underwent surgery to close the hole in September 2023. Ferguson also suffered a second stroke in June 2024 while on a bus, leading to epilepsy medication being prescribed.
Since his initial stroke, Ferguson has been attending swimming classes recommended by The Stroke Association, which he credits with helping him regain mobility and strength. He also attends trauma therapy, including yoga and meditation, to manage anxiety. Despite the setbacks, Ferguson says he is doing much better and is gradually returning to work.
