Spinal stroke sufferer was told to 'find a local leisure centre for a shower'

A NORTHUMBERLAND man had an extremely rare “spinal stroke” at the wheel of his van which suddenly left him unable to feel his legs.

- SAM VOLPE

Peter Rolls, 57, from Holystone, was on his way to work at the family-run Earsdon Plants Centre in December last year when he took ill.

Since then, he has been receiving intensive treatment and he is currently at Walkergate Park Hospital in Newcastle.

However, he is due to be discharged and loved ones are struggling to adapt the home he shares with wife Heidi appropriately.

Colleagues of Heidi, a nurse, set up a crowdfunding page to support them and help to pay for vital adaptations - especially as Peter was told his best option would be to “find a local leisure centre to shower”.

Heidi told The Journal: “It was December 8. It was a Sunday morning. Peter's family runs the garden centre at Earsdon.

“He was going into work in the morning. He was in the van on his way in and he got to the Holystone Roundabout.

“By the time he turned around and got home he couldn’t feel both legs. He had a very rare spinal stroke.