Shock as footballer, 20, suffers a stroke (From Ledbury Reporter)

Shock as footballer, 20, suffers a stroke

8:50am Friday 31st August 2012 in News

A FIT and healthy town footballer was struck down out of the blue by a minor stroke while at work.

James Febery was taken by ambulance to Hereford County Hospital after losing sensation in the right side of his body last week, while doing maintenance work.

The popular 20-year-old is a first team regular at the New Street ground playing in midfield for Ledbury Town Football Club.

Further tests are due to be carried out today to try to pinpoint exactly what the cause of the problem is.

Meanwhile, Mr Febery has recovered his movement and is now at home with his mother, Andrea, in Ledbury, under doctor’s orders to take things easy for the next few weeks.

She was able to travel with her son in the ambulance, and said the stroke had baffled doctors.

“It came totally out of the blue,” she said.

“The doctors did a scan on his brain, which shows it was a mini stroke.

“He’s played sport, and has been an outstanding sportsman and is fit and healthy so it is a complete mystery.

“He’s now on medication to thin the blood, and four weeks’ complete rest.”

He is still suffering with blurred vision in one eye.

She said there was family history of strokes, and that James’ older brother Lee had suffered one aged just 29. Andy Kibble, club chairman, said the “best wishes”

of the club were with Febery and offered their full support.

“We heard that all of a sudden he had lost some use of right arm, his speech was slurring, and there was some loss of vision,” he said.

“It’s strange, because he had an episode last season but being a young man I don’t think he thought much of it and carried on.

“We wish him a speedy recovery, as he is a key player in the team.”

Mr Kibble said the medical emergency had brought into sharp focus the risks facing footballers.

He cited the recent case of 24-year-old Premier League footballer Fabrice Muamba, whose heart stopped for more than an hour after he suddenly collapsed on the pitch.

There had been no indication, up until that point, he was going to suffer a cardiac arrest.

“With James it happened at work but we, at Ledbury, are one of the only teams in the Herefordshire FA to have a defibrillator pitchside and 12 trained personnel who can use it.”