Fletcher’s back from the brink

Fletcher Hunt was close to death after being struck by a brain haemorrhage.

Devastated new wife Lorraine and his family were told to expect the worst but he fought back and with the love and support of the local community is now battling back to health.

Richard Hooton met the couple to hear their remarkable story and how fundraisers have rallied to their aid.

IT was on June 6 last year when popular couple Fletcher and Lorraine Hunt, from High Crompton, tied the knot at Rochdale Register Office.

But wedded bliss almost turned to tragedy when Shaw man Fletcher — well-known in the community for his affable nature and described as a gentle giant — felt ill just five months later, complaining of a headache and pins and needles in his arm.

On October 12, three days after his 42nd birthday, the Oldham Council roads worker was rushed to casualty by ambulance where scans showed a bleed on the brain.

He was transferred from the Royal Oldham to Hope Hospital for an operation that night.

“If that wasn’t horrendous enough, two days later the pressure built up in his head and he needed two operations and part of his skull was taken away to relieve the pressure — and at that point there was a blood clot as well,” said Lorraine (41).

“He was taken to intensive care and he was very critically ill.”

Fletcher did not regain consciousness and after another scan two days later, doctors feared the worst.

Lorraine said: “He was put on a high dependency unit. There was nothing else intensive care could do for him.

“They more or less said he would probably not regain consciousness and his organs would fail. We were all absolutely devastated and heartbroken. Everyone felt their world had ended.”

Family and friends came to talk to Fletcher in the hope it would have an effect.

And when his three boys from previous relationships — Sam (16), Brandon (12) and Mitchell (11) — came to visit for the first time, prayers were answered in incredible circumstances.

“It was quite bizarre,” said Lorraine. “His children had not visited him as it’s quite scary in intensive care. But the moment they looked in, his eyes opened.”

Fletcher had to endure another operation and there were concerns over how seriously he would be left brain damaged.

“We just went through hell waiting to see the outcome,” said Lorraine. “Against all the odds he just made it. It’s been a rollercoaster. It’s happy and sad every day. But he’s making such a big improvement.”

Fletcher is staying at the Floyd Unit for neurological rehabilitation at Rochdale’s Birch Hill Hospital. He has short-term memory loss and it has affected his concentration and movement on his left hand side.

The family are still waiting to see how much he can recover but he has already taken giant strides and is rewarding visitors by cracking jokes.

Lorraine said: “He’s gone from being very critically ill to being able to talk, eat and drink. He’s doing really well in physio.

“It’s a day at time. His recovery is all dependent on how much Fletcher can do. It’s all in the lap of the Gods. With brain injuries everyone is different. To get him where he is now is remarkable. Many people don’t survive this, so whatever the outcome we are lucky.

“I adore my husband and love him to bits and whatever happens we will get through it together and I will always look after him.

“Fletcher used to play rugby, had a manual job and was never poorly. If there was one person you would never think it would happen to it’s Fletcher. He’s the strongest. It was completely out of the blue.

“He’s one of the lads in the Shaw community and that’s why everyone has got together. He is never short of visitors. His sense of humour hasn’t changed.

I can’t walk through Shaw without people asking me how he is. Everyone comes to visit him.”

Extra stress was added when Lorraine had to cancel a holiday to Majorca they had booked last August for this year. She was left upset when her credit card company and Jet2 wouldn’t give a refund despite Fletcher’s illness.

The couple face an uncertain future and depending on Fletcher’s needs may have to move house when he can finally return home.

Fundraisers have been raising money to support Lorraine and a benefit do has raised £5,800, while last month 14 friends cycled 150 miles in three days down the Pennine cycleway to raise another £2,000.

Friends Mark Smith and Lesley Anne run new business Experience Events and have organised a charity dinner at Crompton and Royton Golf Club tomorrow, featuring comedian Kevin Connelly and singer January, which Fletcher will be able to attend.

Mr Smith said: “All 150 tickets sold out in two days. Hopefully we can get the fundraising up to £10,000. There’s also another bike ride planned. It’s about all of Shaw rallying round.”

Lorraine said: “There’s a lot of good people in Shaw who in times of trouble will stick together and everyone has helped us so much. These people pull you through it.”

She has just gone back to work at Boots part-time and added: “I have to act normally but my life is not normal now, it’s changed..”

She sent a big thank you to staff at Hope and the Floyd Unit for all the care and support they have given.

Fletcher told the Chronicle he was doing well and thought the fundraising work his friends have done was brilliant.

Experience Events can be contacted on 07875 407758.