A PERSONAL trainer has told the horrifying moment he suffered a stroke while teaching an online class.

Dad-of-one Glen Eastick, 33, was unable to talk to his client on-screen as the stroke quickly developed.

Glen, who trains people at the Harbour Hotel in Ocean Village, Southampton, had suffered a stroke caused by a hole in the heart - called a PFO - and only survived thanks to his quick-thinking girlfriend.

She had returned home while Glen was struggling to speak , spotted the symptoms of a stroke and called an ambulance.

Glen, whose symptoms started when he was making lunch ahead of the training session, is now talking about the horrifying incident in July 2020 as he calls for more research into strokes caused by a hole in the heart.

He said: “I briefly lost the use of my arm for about ten seconds and dribbled a bit but then continued making lunch.

“Then when I went into my next online session I realised I couldn’t talk. Nothing was coming out except the odd word. My client was saying are you ok?

“My girlfriend Bex was out on a walk with our six-week-old baby Evie and as soon as she came back she realised something was wrong as I was struggling to talk.

READ MORE: City of Culture 2025: Craig David and Floella Benjamin back Southampton

"She called the ambulance and I was rushed into hospital.”

He was given drugs to dissolve the clot blocking the blood supply which was killing cells in his brain.

Glen has now made a good recovery - and even set his 10k personal best three months after heart surgery.

He is backing the Stroke Association's call for more research.

He said: “I’ve been very fortunate to make a good recovery but others aren’t so fortunate which is why research is so important.

“I think research into PFOs or why blood tends to clot more in some people than others may help.

"I also believe that research into medication could be done more as I am on the drug clopidogrel at the moment. I am taking it, but the idea of being on medication for the rest of my life doesn’t fill me with joy.

“As a personal trainer I specialise with people in health conditions such as MS and stroke so I know all about them but never thought it would happen to me.

“After my stroke I took all of my theory and made it relevant for myself. I knew what I should and shouldn’t do to get me back into running again.

"It can be quite unnerving to go back into exercise after a stroke and you worry it might happen again. You worry that you can’t trust your body anymore."

A message from the Editor

Thank you for reading this article - we appreciate your support in reading the Daily Echo.

Subscribing to the Echo means you have unrestricted access to the latest news, features and Saints coverage - all with an advertising-light website.

You will also have full access to Saintsplus, your new home for Southampton FC tactical analysis, features and much, much more.

Don't take my word for it - subscribe here to see for yourself.

Follow the latest breaking news in the Southampton area by joining our Facebook group - Southampton News - Breaking News and Incidents

Follow the latest court and crime news on our dedicated Facebook group - Hampshire Court and Crime News