Gogglebox’s Shaun Malone recalls nearly dying after ‘stroke’ at 15

Gogglebox star Shaun Malone has recalled the moment he was on the brink of death aged 15.

The media personality, who has appeared on the famous Channel 4 show with his family since 2014, revealed he had a less than 10 per cent chance of survival as his case of sinusitis caused brain damage.

Now 24, Shaun focuses on his duties as a coach at the Manchester United Foundation, where he started playing disability football with the organisation.

The reality star detailed when he went into a coma after suffering from swelling on the brain following a common sinus infection.

He explained on the Coaching From The Sofa podcast earlier this month: ‘In 2010 I got sinusitis and in some way, the infection found its way back to my brain.

‘My brain started swelling and my skull started crushing it so my mum took me to A&E saying “look he’s poorly!” and they said it was sinusitis.

Sinusitis is swelling of the sinuses and usually clears up within two to three weeks, but medication is usually administered when it takes longer to heal. 

Symptoms include pain, swelling and tenderness around your cheeks, eyes or forehead, a reduced sense of smell, a high temperature and a toothache.

In rare cases, like Shaun’s, sinus infections in the rear center of your head can spread into the brain, which can lead to life-threatening conditions such as meningitis or brain abscess.  

The Manchester native continued: ‘And then I collapsed one day at home and I ended up going into a coma and they said to my mum and dad that I had a less than 10 per cent chance of living.  

Shaun explained how his brain damage affected his life shortly after he woke up from a coma, sharing: ‘I was in a coma for a few weeks – and they said to my mum and dad “Shaun’s got brain damage, we don’t know what the brain damage is or how it’ll affect him or if it’s going to be really bad”.

‘And when I woke up my brain damage affected me in some ways, like my memory but mostly the way it affected me was with my left side. 

‘I essentially had a stroke, I couldn’t move my left arm, my left leg, even the left side of my face. My sister has got pictures of me trying to eat.’

Nearly a decade on, he credited his job at Manchester United Foundation for helping regain his confidence after his ordeal.

The sportsman said: ‘It had a huge impact on my mental health, I had gone from a very outgoing, young kid to then having all my independence taken away from me.’

In May, he and his family were forced to defend themselves after they were accused of not adhering to social distancing rules.

In recent weeks, the Channel 4 hit show has been criticised by some who believe members of the families are meeting up for the recordings.

Complaints have even been made to Ofcom while other fans have criticised the families on social media.

The Malone family, made up of Tom, Julie, Tom Jnr and Shaun, from Manchester, had their say on Twitter.

Tom and Julie’s daughter Vanessa does not appear on the show but her parents explained she is a nurse and is living at their residence. 

Julie said from the family’s Twitter account: ‘Just going to put this out there so we are all up to date, I know the social distancing rules too, I love my Grandkids, I would never put them or anyone else’s health in danger.’