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"A part of my brain died" - Incredible story of Irish Paralympian Paul Keogan

"They put a boxing glove on my hand to stop me from pulling all the tubes out" - Paul Keogan spe...



News & Sport

"A part of my brain died" - Incredible story of Irish Paralympian Paul Keogan

"They put a boxing glove on my hand to stop me from pulling all the tubes out" - Paul Keogan speaks about his incredible comeback from a stroke.

Some stories just enrapture you from beginning to end - Paralympian athlete Paul Keogan's is one of them.

Paul had a major stroke when he was 17 years old, meaning that he was paralysed down one side of his body, leaving intense spasticity in his musculature to this day. Precision grip with his left is tricky, but today he is intensely better shape than the day after the operation that saved his life.

Through a mix of incredible determination, and endearing ignorance of his physical situation, Paul began an infuriating, slow recovery. He set himself goals: returning to the senior football team at school, returning to complete his Leacing Certificate, going to University and from there to competing at Rio 2016 - Paul's is a life less ordinary.

Watch the video above to get the full story from Paul himself.

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Irish Heart Foundation Olympics Paralympics Sport Stroke Stroke Recovery