Quick thinking saved Bendigo stroke victim’s life

In the middle of a conversation, Mr Dolman collapsed without warning.

“I came to my senses with a massive headache and a bleeding elbow,” he said.

“Neither the gentleman with me nor myself had any idea what happened, but he recognised very quickly that it was serious and as a result he took my keys off me and took me to hospital immediately.”

Once at hospital it became clear Mr Dolman had suffered a “massive cerebellar stroke” and he was told his brain was “about to shut down”.

He was rushed into treatment, and while there would be weeks of rehabilitation to follow, it was the quick thinking of his colleague that ultimately saved his life.

Mr Dolman told his story at the launch of National Stroke Week at Bendigo Health, in the hope his experience could help save other lives through the Stroke Foundation’s FAST campaign.

The letters represent the three most common signs of stroke – droopy Face, weak Arms, slurred Speech – and the most critical element, Time.

While Mr Dolman’s stroke was not accompanied by any of the most common signs, he said his symptoms were enough to raise the alarm.

“I had the mother of all headaches and had an unexplained fall, at that time I knew no reason why nor did the person with me, however he brought the fourth one into effect, he thought quickly, he acted quickly and I am here today because of it,” he said.

Bendigo Health sub-acute services director Marc Budge said there were about 450 strokes recorded in the city per year and that figure was expected to rise to 1000 strokes per year within the next 20 years.

But Professor Budge said if people reacted quickly, a new phone app for paramedics could help reduce any lasting damage.

“Ambulances who are coming in with someone with a suspected stroke can actually warn us in advance so we can have things prepared for them in the emergency department,” he said.