warningAlan Byrne was left fighting for his life after he suffered heat stroke.
By Lia Bichel
THE Family of a Southern Health patient who was left fighting for his life after suffering heat stroke is telling his story in hopes that people will take proper precautions before going out in the summer’s heat.
On Valentine’s Day two years ago, Berwick Resident Bernadette Byrne received a phone call that changed her life.
“It’s one of those phone calls parent should never receive. Police told me my son, Alan, was in the hospital in Queensland, severely sick,” she said.
“I panicked. I was shaking and crying. I was just in total shock.”
Mrs Byrne and her husband Des flew to Queensland to be by their son’s side.
He was in a coma and on full life support. Their five other children later joined them.
Doctors said Alan had collapsed due to heat stroke while he was working as a brick layer in 42 degree weather. They did not expect him to live.
Fortunately he did live, but the heat stroke left him unable to walk and has affected his speech. His top jaw and nose deteriorated from the stroke, and he had to have facial reconstruction.
His family helped him constantly when he moved back to Victoria, and now he depends on carers. He currently attends physiotherapy at Cranbourne Community Rehabilitation Centre.
“It’s been a long journey and a hard journey for all of us, but Alan has improved so much,” Mrs Byrne said.
“He was depressed at first, but he’s gotten through that stage.
“He is trying new things like going to the gym, sailing with the organization Sailability, and shooting at Springvale. He is a fighter.”
Mrs Byrne said family, friends, and acquaintances were shocked by the severity of the situation.
“It’s unbelievable. No-one knew that heat stroke could do this to someone. It’s changed his whole life, and it’s changed our whole life,” she said.
Southern Health’s Director of Emergency Medicine Professor George Braitberg said such severe cases were rare, but warned people to be sun smart to avoid the risk.
“Heat stress causes a spectrum of illness, ranging from generalised illness through to life-threatening multiple organ injury that can be fatal in a small number of patients,” he said.
“Having ‘time out’ in air-conditioned shopping centres, drinking lots of fluid and using fans help decrease internal body temperatures.” Mrs Byrne said her family and friends have taken increased safety precautions since Alan suffered heat stroke.
“We are all very conscious before we go in the sun now. It’s important for people to take the proper precautions,” she said.
“The heat can be a dangerous thing.”
