A YOUNG farmer who suffered a massive stroke has presented more than £6,000 to the Colchester hospital unit which cared for him.

Angus Williams, 26, spent eight months in three hospitals after suffering a brain haemorrhage at his Tolleshunt D’Arcy home on July 23 last year.

He spent a month in intensive care at Queen’s Hospital in Romford, where a section of his skull was removed to allow his brain to swell. He then gradually built up his strength at Colchester General Hospital’s stroke unit before continuing his rehabilitation at Homerton University Hospital, in East London.

This week he handed a cheque for £6,566 to staff at the Colchester stroke unit, money raised by his Essex Young Farmers’ Club friends. Mr Williams said: “I was found collapsed on the floor by my housemate and my only vague recollection was of a paramedic.

“Having spent eight months in various hospitals, the quality of care I received throughout showed the drubbing the NHS gets in the press just isn’t fair. The care I received was exemplary.”

Mr Williams, who has now resumed work at family farm, Garlands Farm, Tollesbury, especially praised the care he was given at Colchester General Hospital, where he still attends regular sessions to help him regain the use of his left hand and improve his mobility.

He said: “I’m glad I spent time there. I went to Homerton for the specialist rehab , but I think the time I spent in Colchester meant I was better equipped for the rehab.”

The money he donated came from the Essex County Federation of Young Farmers’ Clubs’ New Year’s Eve Ball, two fundraising evenings and the sale of scrap cars from a monster truck display at the Essex Young Farmers’ Show.

Some of it will be used to buy multifunction drip stands and bean bags.

Mr Williams singled out senior therapist Lisa Marshall for going “above and beyond” in helping him recover.

She said: “He has been a pleasure to work with throughout his rehabilitation – he is a genuine, patient and fun young man.

“I’d like to thank him and the Young Farmers for their generous donation.”