Sudden death of Falkirk councillor's dad inspires stroke symptom campaign
19.09.2023 - 18:17
/ dailyrecord.co.uk
A Falkirk councillor who lost his dad to a stroke has urged colleagues and opponents to back a campaign to improve public awareness of the symptoms.
The sudden death of Tony Bundy - a fit, healthy 53-year-old - came as a huge shock to everyone who knew him. And for the family, including his son James - a councillor in Falkirk - the loss is still raw and painful.
But the grief that he and his family feel has compelled them to campaign for changes to public health messaging around the symptoms of strokes. And Cllr Bundy now hopes that Falkirk Council will get behind that campaign.
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Tony died on June 29, in Glasgow Royal Infirmary, after collapsing four days earlier, as he waited in a corridor to get treatment. Just days before that, he had also attended his GP, saying that he felt unwell.
Tony suffered a massive stroke - but the symptoms that he showed were not the classic ones that public health advice warns us to look for in the FAST messaging. There was no Facial drooping, Arm weakness, or Slurred speech.
They now know that the type of stroke that Tony had - a Basilar Artery Ischaemic Stroke - was at the base of his brain. Usually, a stroke happens on either side of the brain, leading to the familiar symptoms.
In James' father's case, the stroke at the base of his brain affected his breathing, heart rate and swallowing. His symptoms included dizziness, cold sweats, nausea, vomiting, slow speech and being unable to stand - but because he passed the 'FAST' test, a stroke was not considered.
Cllr Bundy said: "Ultimately, a public health campaign is meant to save lives and to give people information. If you are missing out key symptoms in