Father-of-two Adam Binns’ coughing fit leads to a severe stroke

Father-of-two and avid rock climber Adam Binns suffered a severe medical episode after succumbing to a simple bug — now doctors say he might never fully recover.

A coughing attack likely caused an extremely fit father-of-two to heartbreakingly suffer a severe stroke leaving him unable to speak or move the right side of his body.

Adam Binns was visiting a friend in Moonta when he fell ill with a simple bug.

“He was coughing a lot, he was vomiting,” his 18-year-old son Felix Binns told The Advertiser.

“When his friend got back from work, they found him lying on the floor basically vomiting profusely.”

Mr Binns was rushed to Wallaroo Hospital before he was flown to the Royal Adelaide Hospital (‘RAH’), where he remains.

Adam Binns, an avid rock climber, unexpectedly suffered a severe stroke in January. Picture: Supplied

Adam Binns (second from left) was sick while in Moonta when he suffered a stroke. Picture: Facebook

The swimming and climbing coach went into surgery as soon as he landed at the RAH and was placed into an induced coma.

Doctors said he suffered a left side stroke which meant he would likely never be able to move the right side of his body the same way again and his speech and comprehension would be impaired.

“The doctors weren’t very optimistic at all,” Felix said.

“They were saying it’s very likely he will spend a very extended period of time in a nursing home.”

Adam Binns (middle front) with his close family friends and son, (left to right), Zac Gripske, Rob Clements, Felix Binns, Nicole Bray, Alysha Wreford, Ryan Gaskon, Andrew Moriarty, Emmett Clements. Picture: Supplied

Doctors told Felix his dad’s coughing and vomiting was independent of the stroke and likely caused a blood clot to travel to his brain causing the stroke, which occurred on January 15.

“It was the worst news I’ve ever been given in my life,” the Williamstown teenager said.

“They mentioned to us, if anything, the fact he’s only 46 and he keeps himself quite fit and healthy actually caused it to be worse … it’s pretty full on.

“It really shows you how close you’ve got to keep the people you care about.”

Adam was placed in an induced coma following his surgery. Picture: Supplied

Doctors are unsure how Adam (left) will recover but his children are holding out hope. Picture: Facebook

Mr Binns underwent a second surgery to remove part of his skull to relieve pressure and eventually was brought out of the coma.

Within the last four days he has begun to comprehend better.

“He’s actually there and he’s showing signs of understanding,” Felix said.

“The doctors are still saying to rein our hopes in, there’s no guarantee that he’ll be back to normal ever … but there’s a chance.

Adam with his son Felix Binns a week before his stroke. Pictures: Supplied

“The thing we are fighting for is a chance to have a conversation with someone that we care about again.

“It just makes me happy to know that there’s a chance there … he can understand us when we tell him that we love him.”

Felix said he is heartbroken his dad is now facing an uncertain future.

If you’d like to donate to Mr Binns, you can here.

Originally published as Father-of-two Adam Binns’ coughing fit leads to a severe stroke