A PORT man lay for six days alone on the floor of his bedroom after suffering a massive stroke.

Gerard Gisbey, 58, was rescued by his sister on Christmas Day — but had no idea just how seriously ill he was.

The stroke has left him with little movement down his right side and his speech badly affected.

Now on the road to recovery, he has paid tribute to the amazing care he received at the hands of doctors and nurses at Inverclyde Royal Hospital and told how he hopes to one day return to his job.

Reliving what happened, Gerard, of Mount Pleasant, Barr’s Brae, said: “I was in the house for six days on my own.

“I have very little memory of what happened, I just thought I had fallen and I kept trying to pull myself back on to the bed.

“I moved from one side of the bed to another and I also tried to get to the door but I crashed through the door screen.” Gerard’s loved ones became concerned when they hadn’t heard from him and it was only then that he was discovered.

He said: “My sister Helen was worried about me because I hadn’t called.

“She has a key and came on Christmas Day to find me.

“I felt perfectly fine but I think my sister got a fright because I was struggling to speak to her.

“I was taken to hospital but even then I still didn’t realise I had had a stroke.

“I don’t remember any signs that I was taking a stroke and this is my first.” Gerard has been undergoing months of rehabilitation as he works hard to get the movement back in his arm and leg, but he knows he has a long way still to go.

His career has taken him all over the world and he is hoping to recover so that he can return to work again.

But for now he is taking it one step at a time.

He admitted: “It has changed my life forever.

“I rely on my brothers and sisters.

“I can’t go out alone, but I am hoping to try and get on a bus myself.

“That would be a big step.

“I am continually trying to use my hand to write as well.

“Sometimes I can get feeling back.” Inverclyde is an area with a high level of strokes and heart-related conditions.

The Scottish Government has made the treatment of strokes a top priority and IRH currently has the best performing care unit in Scotland.

Led by consultant Dr Javed Akhtar, physician in stroke medicine, the team have met all the targets set down for them by ministers.

Recent figures show that every patient brought to hospital and showing signs of a stroke is seen within the critical first 24 hours by specialists.

The unit also introduced a drop-in clinic that can be used by people who are concerned they may have suffered another stroke.

Former oil worker Gerard feels he is making great strides due to the expert care he has received at Inverclyde Royal.

He added: “The staff in the IRH are just amazing, absolutely terrific. They can’t do enough for you and make such a fuss when you go there.

“I would never have got this far without them.

“The support is amazing.”