Charity’s plea after Norris Cole’s death on Corrie

The Stroke Association, the UK’s leading charity dedicated to stroke, has urged viewers to act FAST and save lives if they think someone may be having a stroke.

Juliet Bouverie, Chief Executive of the Stroke Association, said:

“Millions of Coronation Street fans will be mourning the loss of Norris Cole, one of the programme’s much-loved characters, after a stroke. It sadly reminds us that stroke is one of the leading causes of death in the UK and the single largest cause of complex disability in adults.

“However, the excellent news is the mortality rate after stroke has decreased by over a third in the past two decades. Much of this is down to the remarkable advances in treatment for stroke and the medical care that survivors receive.

“It’s also because people are much more aware of the symptoms of stroke and know that stroke is a medical emergency. Lives can be saved if you think and act FAST.

“Face – has their face fallen on one side? Can they smile? Arms – can they raise both their arms and keep them there? Speech – is their speech slurred? Time – time to call 999!

“A stroke is a brain attack and acting fast makes a huge difference. You are more likely to survive a stroke and make a better recovery if you call 999 on spotting any one of the symptoms. The quicker you act, the more of the person you save.”

For more information about stroke and support services for survivors and carers visit www.stroke.org.uk or call the Stroke Helpline on 0303 3033 100.

Think and act F.A.S.T., the signs of stroke are:

Face – has their face fallen on one side? Can they smile?
Arms – can they raise both their arms and keep them there?
Speech – is their speech slurred?
Time – time to call 999!
Some other signs of stroke or mini stroke can include:

Sudden loss of vision or blurred vision in one or both eyes
Sudden weakness or numbness on one side of your body (including in your leg)
Sudden memory loss or confusion
Sudden dizziness, unsteadiness, or a sudden fall, especially with any of the other signs