‘Like getting hit in the head with a hammer’: Paul Bovington suffers stroke while running at Parkrun

A Hillbank man went for a Saturday run, as he normally did, but this day ended in tragedy when he fell unconscious suffering a life-altering medical episode.

Paul Bovington was a fit and healthy 42 year old man attempting to run a personal best on a Saturday parkrun when he suffered a life-altering stroke.

“I woke up that morning, same as any other morning,” the now 48-year-old said.

“I was pushing quite hard and I got around the halfway mark … when I had the sudden onset of a headache that was unbelievable.”

Mr Bovington said it was like someone was “hitting (him) over the head with a hammer”.

He’d been running on December 15 2018 with his brother-in-law who suggested he sit down on a patch of grass nearby.

“I decided to turn over and sleep it off and I actually went unconscious,” the Hillbank man said.

Paul Bovington on the parkrun track in Salisbury Heights, where he suffered a stroke in 2018. Picture: Matt Loxton

Ambulances came and rushed him to the Royal Adelaide Hospital where he stayed in an induced coma for three weeks.

Mr Bovington underwent an emergency craniectomy to save his life.

After he woke from the coma, he stayed in hospital for another few weeks before being transferred to Hampstead Rehabilitation Centre where he stayed for four months learning how to walk and talk again.

“That was quite hard,” he said.

“I suddenly found that I didn’t have proper control over my left side … and that was quite scary to be honest, especially trying to walk or stand on a leg that you just don’t really have full control over, and you’re kind of not too sure of.”

Paul Bovington following his brain surgery. Picture: Supplied

Paul was placed in an induced coma for three weeks following the stroke. Picture: Supplied

Since his stroke six years ago, Mr Bovington’s goal has always been to run a marathon. Now on the same day he suffered his stroke — December 15 — he has plans to run the length of a marathon to realise his goal.

“I’m planning on replacing the horrible memory of having a stroke on that date with something that’s going to be more positively impactful for more,” he said.

“I was 42 when I had my stroke, I was young, I was doing hard marathons, I was running a lot, healthy, yet I had a stroke.

“Strokes can happen, it doesn’t matter how old you are or how healthy you are.”

Stroke Foundation CEO Dr Lisa Murphy

An Australian experiences a stroke every 19 minutes.

National Stroke Awareness Week runs from Monday August 5 to Sunday August 11.

Stroke Foundation CEO Lisa Murphy said stroke can strike anyone at any time, even babies have strokes.

“When a stroke strikes, brain cells start dying at a frightening rate of up to 1.9 million per minute, but prompt medical treatment can stop this damage,” Dr Murphy said.

“Our message is simple. The faster you can be treated for stroke, the more chance you have of making a full recovery. The vital first step in accessing these treatments is recognising the F.A.S.T. signs and calling triple-0 (000).

“We want someone in every home and workplace to know the acronym and to share it with your family, friends and colleagues.”

Think F.A.S.T and ask these questions if you suspect a stroke:

Face – Check their face. Has their mouth drooped?

Arms – Can they lift both arms?

Speech – Is their speech slurred? Do they understand you?

Time – Time is critical. If you see any of these signs, call triple-0 (000) straight away.