Stories
February 22, 2026
Early one Saturday morning, Andrew’s life took an unexpected turn. Just after his wife Kass got up at 4 am, Andrew also awoke and immediately he realised something was seriously wrong. “I thought, ‘I’ll get up,” and then I couldn’t,” Andrew recalls. Paralysis had struck down the left side of his body, and he couldn’t speak.
Recognising the urgency, Andrew started banging on the wall to get his wife’s attention. She quickly assessed the situation, realised he was having a stroke and dialled 111. Within minutes, the emergency call had set a chain of events into motion that would ultimately save his life.
Due to their remote rural beachfront location in Papa Aroha, communication and access were challenging. An ambulance was swiftly dispatched, where a team of first responders and the Coromandel Fire Brigade arrived promptly to stabilise Andrew. Realising the severity of the stroke, they coordinated with the Auckland Westpac Rescue Helicopter crew, who were dispatched to airlift him to Auckland Hospital, where specialised neurosurgeons could intervene.
“I’ve been told if I hadn’t been flown by helicopter, I would have been dead,” Andrew says. The rapid response ensured he reached the operating theatre just in time. Remarkably, despite the seriousness of his stroke, Andrew’s speech remained intact, and he retained awareness throughout the ordeal.
After four days in Auckland Hospital and a further two days in Waikato Hospital Andrew returned home to continue his recovery. He now experiences only slight weakness in his left arm and is steadily regaining strength through physiotherapy, swimming, and daily exercise.
Reflecting on the experience, Andrew emphasises the vital role of timely intervention. “Two hours makes all the difference. Being in the right place, with the right medical crew, is what gave me my life back.”
Andrew remains grateful and determined to focus on the positives. “I’ve always tried to live life to the fullest, and this hasn’t changed that, it’s just shifted a few things for my wife and me.”
