Sir Brain May: Queen star suffers ‘sudden’ stroke leaving him without ‘any control over’ his left arm.
Sir Brian May has revealed he suffered a ‘sudden’ stroke last week that left him without ‘any control over’ his left arm.
The rock star, 77, admitted the attack was ‘scary’ but said he has managed to regain enough movement to play his guitar again.
The Queen icon, on a video posted to his website, said: ‘It was a minor stroke and all of a sudden – out of the blue. ‘I didn’t have any control over this arm so it was a little scary.’
Sign up to The Nightly's newsletters.
Get the first look at the digital newspaper, curated daily stories and breaking headlines delivered to your inbox.
By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.Sir Brian, married to former EastEnders actress Anita Dobson, 75, since 2000, said that he was taken to hospital ‘blue lights flashing, the lot – very excited’.
Demonstrating movement had returned to his arms, he wiggled his fingers to the camera and added: ‘I think the good news is that I can play guitar after the events of the last few days – and I say this because it was in some doubt.’
The remaining members of Queen last performed in February with Sir Brian on guitar and singer Adam Lambert taking the place of Freddie Mercury, who died in 1991 aged 45.
The musician praised medics for the ‘fantastic care’ he received at Frimley Park Hospital in Surrey.
His health scare means the revamped band’s dates are unlikely to go ahead for the foreseeable future.
He explained: ‘I’m just doing what I’m told which is basically nothing.
‘I’m grounded, I’m not allowed to go out. Well, I’m not allowed to drive, not allowed to get on a plane, not allowed to raise the heart rate too high.’
The video was filmed outside and, as a plane could be heard overhead, he joked: I’m not allowed to have planes flying over, which will stress me. But I’m good.’
Sir Brian urged fans not to get in touch with their well wishes, saying: ‘I really don’t want sympathy.’
Mini-strokes are also known as transient ischaemic attacks (TIAs) which occur when the blood supply to the brain is temporarily interrupted.
Symptoms include weakness or numbness in one arm, facial drooping and slurred or confused speech.
Sir Brian’s stroke comes four years after he had a ‘small’ heart attack. Three of his arteries had become ‘congested and in danger of blocking the blood’ to his heart. He had surgery to fit three stents.
