Peep Show actor Matt King has described the terrifying aftermath of a rare spinal cord stroke that left him paralysed for 36 hours. The 58-year-old, best known for playing Super Hans, said he could not remember the ambulance journey or his first day and a half in hospital. He woke on a stroke ward at the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton.

King discussed the experience in an interview published in September, saying doctors warned he could have been left in a wheelchair, or faced a worse outcome. He said he felt fortunate during his hospital stay, although the stroke had affected his cognitive abilities.

A Terrifying 36 Hours After the Spinal Stroke

King told The Guardian that the initial period was 'absolutely terrifying'. He could not recall being taken to hospital or the first 36 hours that followed. His next clear memory was waking on the stroke ward at the Royal Sussex County Hospital.

He said the stroke was a very rare type affecting a lower section of his spinal cord. Doctors told him he might have ended up in a wheelchair, or suffered a more serious outcome. King said he was 'very lucky' and spent much of his time in hospital feeling grateful.

King first publicly disclosed the stroke on 30 April, revealing that he had been hospitalised after suffering it on 26 April. He said he had initially been paralysed and praised Royal Sussex staff for their care. By then, he could walk again, although only a little, and described his legs as feeling like 'jelly'.

What a Spinal Stroke Does

A spinal stroke occurs when the blood supply to the spinal cord is disrupted, potentially damaging tissue and interrupting nerve impulses travelling along the spinal cord. The Brain and Spine Foundation says spinal strokes account for about 1.25 per cent of all strokes.

Symptoms depend on which part of the spinal cord is affected and how much damage occurs. They can include severe neck or back pain, weakness, altered sensation and paralysis. The foundation also lists bowel and bladder problems among possible symptoms.

Recovery varies between individuals. The foundation says longer-term effects can include pain, physical difficulties, paralysis and depression. King has not publicly detailed the precise medical cause of his stroke or the treatment he received.

Read more

Recovery Has Affected His Work

In September, King said he was not well enough to take part in a planned Super Hans book-signing tour and a FANE event. He had hoped to recover in time but said he needed to put his health first. The audiobook release of Moreish was delayed until late October.

The autobiography, written from the perspective of his Peep Show character Super Hans, was still being completed when King suffered the stroke. He told The Guardian that roughly a quarter of the book remained to be written. He said his cognitive abilities had been affected by the stroke but were gradually improving.

King played Super Hans in Channel 4's Peep Show, which ran from 2003 to 2015. The character's popularity has kept the actor closely associated with the sitcom.

Read more