A STROKE survivor from Handforth who lost the ability to speak four languages is backing the organisation which helped him communicate again.

George Oliver, 70, travelled across Europe as a long-distance lorry driver before he was left unconscious for six days after suffering a stroke in France eight years ago.

When he woke George was unable to communicate, while a mini-stroke two years later set his progress back even further. 

Since then George has worked with the Stroke Association, a charity which works with stroke survivors to help with their recovery, to find new ways to communicate.

Now, George is putting his new-found confidence to good use by becoming an ambassador for the charity which has helped him rediscover his voice.

“The Stroke Association helped me a lot,” he said.

“I became a volunteer and now I'm an ambassador. I can write and spell and now my speech is a lot better.”

George is supporting the association’s Lost for Words campaign, which aims to raise awareness of the challenges stroke survivors with communication difficulties can face.

More than 350,000 people in the UK have aphasia, a communication disability which can be caused by stroke.

Diane Warhurst is the information advice and support coordinator at the Stroke Association, and has supported George throughout his recovery.

She said: “George has been a fantastic role model for other stroke survivors – he’s encouraging and cheerful with a great sense of humour. I’m so proud of his recovery.

“When we first met he had lost a lot of confidence, and found it very difficult to communicate, which can be both terrifying and isolating.

“Eight years on, he’s doing a wonderful job raising awareness of stroke in his local area.”