TEENAGER Ben Gray’s family thought he was suffering an extended hangover from his 18th birthday celebrations.

Just days later he was left unable to speak and effectively locked in his own body after suffering a stroke.

But thanks to experts at Southampton General Hospital he is slowly rebuilding his life.

After four days nursing a supposed hangover Ben was referred by a GP to the Queen Alexandra Hospital in Portsmouth for a suspected kidney infection.

But tests revealed a blood clot on his heart, for which Ben, who was at the time doing a mechanic apprenticeship, was given blood thinning treatment.

However, while sat on the ward Ben’s life changed when he suffered a stroke caused by the blood clot that had broke into pieces and travelled lodging in the major artery that supplied the left side of his brain.

“It was like he was paralysed in a freeze-frame,” said mum Deborah, 60, a mum-of-two, from Locks Heath.

“I asked him if he was okay but he didn’t speak or move.

“His face had no expression and just looked lost.

“I screamed out to the nurses who despite being by our side within seconds, by the time they arrived Ben’s face had dropped and I instantly knew what was wrong.”

Daily Echo: Southampton General Hospital, 2014

Southampton General Hospital

Ben could not look to the right, move his right side or speak and a scan later confirmed two small strokes.

The clot was so large doctors could not dissolve it with an injection so the family faced a choice between Ben being left profoundly disabled or undergoing an emergency procedure.

Southampton General Hospital was contacted and despite it being a Bank Holiday called in staff and Ben underwent surgery there using a stent to pull the clot out through his groin.

Ben, 18, of Northmore Road, Locks Heath, who remembers nothing until he came round, said he had not even been sure what a stroke was thought it affected older people.

In hospital for six weeks, the former Brune Park Community School pupil had to gradually learn to move again - he managed to stand up after seven days of trying.

Ten months after being discharged, he can walk and talk and volunteers at the car garage two days a week as he learns to live without the use of his right hand.

“I can’t thank the doctors enough – especially the ones that came in on their day off,” said Ben.

“If they hadn’t have done that then I wouldn’t be here now.”

Ben shared his story for May’s National Stroke Awareness Month to make more people aware of the signs of a stroke and ensure quick treatment.

These include the face dropping on one side, not being able to lift both arms and keep them there, slurred or garbled speech or inability to talk.