'Don't delay' warning from wife of stroke victim who nearly died
Rapid treatment can be the difference between life and death
Hello and welcome to the midweek edition of The Southport Lead.
There are lots of factors which can cause health inequality and some are far easier to explain than others. One of the more difficult is the reason why the North West has the highest rate of premature stroke deaths in England - by some margin.
In June, clinicians and researchers gathered at the University of Lancashire for a Transforming Stroke Care conference which heard of exactly this issue.
Among those to tell their story was the wife of a Southport man whose quick response helped to save his life. She has shared their story in the hope others will also have the confidence to act quickly.
Southport briefing
🚓 The son of a farmer who was shot dead on his Scarisbrick farm has been charged with manslaughter almost two years later. Thomas Olverson was shot while riding a tractor on Marsh Hey Farm, off Pinfold Lane, in July 2024 and was pronounced dead at the scene. Police confirmed arrested on suspicion of murder at the time and his bail was repeatedly extended as investigations continued and in July 2025 Lancashire Constabulary told The Southport Lead that it had submitted a file to the CPS to consider whether charges could be made. Eleven months on, Adam Olverson was this week re-arrested this week and charged with manslaughter, possession of a firearm without a certificate, and possession of ammunition without a certificate. The 31-year-old, of Pinfold Lane, is due to appear at Preston Magistrates Court today.
🪖 Southport has been chosen as the host of the 2027 Armed Forces Day national event. The town already hosts a large-scale event each year and thanks to a successful bid will be given £50k of event funding from the Ministry of Defence along with access to military assets such as flypasts, equipment and bands, and planning and communications support. The decision was announced by the Defence Secretary at Sunday’s event in Aldershot which attracted tens of thousands of attendees. Major Nick McEntee, Director of Southport Armed Forces Community Hub described the awarding as a “fantastic achievement” and said volunteers were ready to begin work alongside Sefton Council for next year’s event. Mayor of Sefton, Cllr Jennifer Corcoran said: “Sefton has a proud and longstanding connection with our Armed Forces, and it is a tremendous honour for Southport to host the national Armed Forces Day next year. This announcement recognises the dedication and sacrifice of our service personnel, veterans and their families and also the strong sense of community we have here in Southport. We look forward to welcoming visitors from across the country to celebrate, reflect and show our collective support for those who serve.”
🏖️ Britannia Hotels has reiterated its commitment to redeveloping and reopening its Pontins sites. The Ainsdale attraction has been closed since January 2024 and although Sefton Council wants to see it replaced with a “world class” visitor attraction, the hotel company maintains a long-term lease for the site and has no intention of surrendering that. After the latest round of false rumours claiming the site would be used to house asylum seekers, the company issued a statement saying that it is progressing plans for all three of its closed attractions. A spokesperson said: “We continue to undertake surveys, assessments and site management activities at our three vacant Pontins sites. This forms part of our work with an appointed planning consultancy to develop pre-application proposals. These have now been submitted to planning officers at the respective local authorities and we are awaiting dates to discuss their feedback. This will enable us to progress the proposals and secure positive long-term outcomes for all sites.”
🐟 Chippy T has been named as the best in the region. The family-run takeaway, on Ovington Road in Kew, was named winner in the ‘Best Fish & Chips in the North West’ category at the English Fish & Chip Awards as well as being highly recommended in the ‘Best Fish Fryer’ category. Fylde Fish Bar, in Marshside, was highly recommended in the North West category, in Best Dine-In Fish & Chips, and Best Family-Run Business. A spokesperson for the awards said: “Huge congratulations to Chippy T (Southport) for their incredible achievement in Best Fish & Chips in the North West at the English Fish & Chip Awards. This well-deserved recognition celebrates excellence, quality, and dedication to serving some of the finest fish and chips. A fantastic accomplishment for the entire team!”
‘Don’t delay’ warning from wife of stroke victim who nearly died
By Jamie Lopez
The wife of a former aircraft engineer who suffered a stroke believes he would’ve died if he hadn’t received such quick care as she urged others to be aware of the symptoms.
In August 2025, Mike Andrew suffered a stroke caused by a large clot at the back of his brain having previously shown no signs of illness. His wife Ailsa recognised what was happening and called an ambulance, leading to emergency medication and surgery.
Mike, now 60, still lives with the consequences today, no longer being able to work or drive but Ailsa believes he would be dead without the quick treatment.
She said: “We woke up as usual and Mike was fine but within minutes, I knew something was wrong. He had the textbook symptoms of speech loss, his face was drooping and he couldn’t move properly. I rang the ambulance immediately and made sure to say I think it’s a stroke.
“The paramedics took Mike to Aintree Hospital instead of our nearest A&E as they have a rapid access stroke unit and were able to give him clot busting medication, followed by a thrombectomy at the Walton Centre.
“Mike didn’t have high blood pressure or cholesterol and his heart was fine so we’ll never really know the cause of his stroke. He was very stressed at work and that may have been a contributory factor.
“Mike’s stroke has been life changing as he can no longer work as an aircraft engineer or drive but physically, he’s quite well considering. He does have some cognitive delay and struggles with some decision making but we’re very aware things could have been much worse. I know without my immediate action and the decisions made by the paramedics to take him to Aintree, we’re pretty sure he would’ve died.”
