What should have been a devastating medical emergency turned into a story of rapid recovery, thanks to quick thinking, expert care, and being in the right place at the right time.
Western Cape, South Africa (01 April 2026) – Una van Rhyn didn’t have time to second-guess herself. One moment her husband was resting on the couch, the next he was lying on the floor, unable to move. Minutes later, behind the wheel with everything on the line, she made a call that would change the outcome of that day… and the days that followed.
When Una found Andrew face down on the living room carpet last November, she knew instantly that something was terribly wrong. The 65-year-old contractor from Melkbosstrand had been resting just moments earlier and now his right side appeared paralysed. It looked like a stroke… and every second suddenly mattered.
What followed, in Una’s words, was “an absolute stroke of luck, and God sent”.
“We were driving towards another hospital where Andrew’s regular doctor practised when he suffered what appeared to be a second stroke right there in the car. As his body went limp beside me, I made the decision that I believe saved his life – I pulled into the nearest hospital instead,” she recalls.
That nearest hospital turned out to be exactly where they needed to be. Netcare Blaauwberg Hospital had only weeks earlier become the first hospital in the Western Cape to achieve World Stroke Organization Essential Stroke Centre certification. It is one of just two hospitals in Africa to hold this distinction, alongside Netcare Garden City Hospital in Gauteng. In that moment, none of that was front of mind for Una. She just knew she needed help. What she found was a team ready to act with urgency, skill and care.
“Andrew was unresponsive when we arrived at Netcare Blaauwberg Hospital’s emergency department. When he finally came to, tears were streaming down his face. He kept trying to speak but could not form the words. I could see him struggling, desperate to say something,” she says.
It was a frightening scene, made heavier by Andrew’s medical history. He had experienced a mild stroke in 2020 and had been living with serious endocrine issues for nearly four decades. This time felt different. More severe. More uncertain.
And yet, within that uncertainty, something remarkable began to unfold.
“The entire emergency team was incredible. Dr Charl Carstens and the unit manager, Claudette Lotz, kept me fully informed throughout. When their shift ended at 7 pm, no one left. The whole team stayed until Andrew was stable and transferred to the ICU. That level of dedication made all the difference – healthcare professionals don’t get nearly enough recognition for this sort of commitment,” Una adds.
Under the care of neurologist Dr Dinita Devchand, Andrew’s treatment followed internationally recognised protocols designed for exactly these kinds of critical moments. Stroke care is measured in minutes, and the systems in place ensured that every one of those minutes was used effectively.
Dr Devchand explains it clearly: “When blood supply to the brain is interrupted or reduced, brain tissue can no longer get the oxygen and nutrients it needs. Within minutes, brain cells begin to die – a reality captured by the saying ‘Time is brain’.”
“This critical neurological damage makes acute stroke a medical emergency where every second counts, and it is this urgency that drives every aspect of our treatment protocols, from the moment a patient enters through our emergency department to their recovery.”
In South Africa, that urgency carries even more weight. Around 75,000 people suffer strokes each year, with 25,000 cases proving fatal. Survivors often face long-term challenges, with an estimated 95,000 collective years lived with disability. Sub-Saharan Africa has one of the highest stroke incidence rates in the world.
Which is why access to the right care, at the right time, can change everything.
The World Stroke Organization certification represents a comprehensive system of care, from rapid assessment protocols and specialist stroke teams to advanced imaging, treatment options and rehabilitation services. According to Sr Sylvia Ninham, nursing services manager at Netcare Blaauwberg Hospital, these standards directly influence patient outcomes.
“Quicker treatment times, access to the latest therapies, and teams equipped with proven protocols can mean the difference between full recovery and permanent disability,” she explains.
For Andrew, it meant something extraordinary. His previous, milder stroke in 2020 had kept him in hospital for over a week. This time, despite the severity, he was back at work in just ten days.
“I know it sounds strange to say this about a stroke, but the whole experience was actually as positive as something like this could turn out to be. The entire team was simply fantastic. They made all the difference,” says Una.
There is also a message here that goes beyond one family’s experience. Up to 90% of strokes can be prevented through lifestyle changes and managing risk factors such as blood pressure, cholesterol and diabetes. Regular exercise, maintaining a healthy weight, limiting alcohol, avoiding smoking, reducing stress and going for regular check-ups all play a role.
“Stroke is often called a ‘brain attack’ because it closely resembles what occurs during a heart attack. The same lifestyle changes that protect your heart can also help safeguard your brain,” adds Dr Devchand.
At its core, this story is about a moment. A decision made under pressure. A turn into the nearest hospital instead of the familiar one. A team that showed up and stayed. And a system that worked exactly as it was designed to.
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