A hospital porter who suffered a stroke while still in his 20s has detailed his long and painful road to recovery - and attributed his dad with saving his life.

James Mattless was just 27 years old when his father David found him collapsed on his bedroom floor, going in and out of consciousness and slurring his words.

Mr Mattless immediately recognised what was happening to his son and he was admitted to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in King's Lynn - his place of work - for treatment.

Eastern Daily Press:

Here, a brain scan revealed a dangerous blood clot and that same afternoon he was transferred to Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge for an emergency thrombectomy. 

Three years later and Mr Mattless, now 31, has returned to work four days a week after gradually rebuilding his speech, mobility and confidence with the support of his father, the Stroke Association and the stroke ward at the QEH.

Mr Mattless, of South Wootton, said: "I absolutely love being able to work in the same place that helped save my life.

"It was quite a few months before I could properly come to terms with what had happened to me - it took a lot of processing. 

"Most of the people on the ward with me were a lot older than me, probably 65 or above, so it is strange to think it happened to me so young."

Eastern Daily Press:

Following his stroke, Mr Mattless lost many of the functions of the right side of his body - some of which he is yet to recover.

He said: "I do not have peripheral vision in my right eye, I cannot write and I cannot drive.

"I also suffer from chronic fatigue to the point that when I get home from work, I have to go straight to bed - so it is not easy.

"But I owe so much to my dad - had he not found me I almost certainly wouldn't be here now.

"He also took 13 months off of work to look after me through my recovery.

"From the very start, he was amazing and made sure I gradually built things up rather than doing too little. I owe him my life."