SUFFERING a stroke can be a terrifying ordeal for any patient.

But at 25-years-old, former HR manager Amanda Morgan never thought it would be something that would happen to her.

The town centre resident was sat at her desk in January this year when she said she suddenly could not speak or move and waited an hour before colleagues realised something was wrong and called an ambulance.

Courageous Amanda has now joined forces with the Stroke Association to raise awareness of strokes in women after figures from a charity survey found one in eight women in the UK wrongly believe that a stroke could never happen to them.

She added: "I had started a new job and only been there for six days when it happened so they didn't know me or know anything was wrong straight away.

"I couldn't speak or move so I couldn't get anybody's attention. It was scary.

"It happened at 4pm but it wasn't until about 5.15pm somebody noticed.

"I can't describe (that hour) it was just horrible."

It took two months before Amanda could start to speak again on her road to recovery after doctors believe she suffered a rare form of stroke that only affects two per cent of people but after her speech gradually started to improve she was delighted to be able to get back to work in a new role in HR admin.

Amanda, who still experiences low energy levels and has limited feeling in her right arm, added: "Sometimes I feel okay and other times I think 'Can I do this?'

"But my boyfriend Gareth has always been there to tell me I can do it.

"Looking back I can't believe everything that has happened.

"The charity have been excellent helping me with my speaking and written English because I have been getting past and present tenses jumbled up and I really want to support them helping others in the same situation."

Elaine Roberts, director of life after stroke services at the Stroke Association, said: “It’s extremely worrying that most women don’t even have stroke on their radar.

“On World Stroke Day (Wednesday), we’re urging women in the north west to have a better understanding of their risk factors for stroke.

"Simple lifestyle changes such as keeping blood pressure under control, exercising regularly and stopping smoking, could significantly lower women’s likelihood of having a stroke.”

Visit stroke.org.uk/women.