Teen left paralyzed after her severe ‘back ache’ was sign of rare spinal stroke

Nypost · Apr 22, 2026 · 1050 words · By SWNS

open_in_new Read the original article: https://nypost.com/2026/04/22/lifestyle/teen-left-paralyzed-after-her-severe-bac…

psychologyDetected Techniques

warning

Loaded Language 70% confidence

Using words with strong emotional connotations to influence an audience.

fact_checkFact-Check Results

17 claims extracted and verified against multiple sources including cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia.

schedule Pending 7

check_circle Corroborated 6

info Single Source 2

help Insufficient Evidence 2

check_circle

“A fit and healthy woman has told how her “back ache” turned out to be a rare spinal stroke which left her paralyzed from the chest down.”

CORROBORATED

Multiple web search results report the core narrative: a fit woman named Lucy Dunford whose 'back ache' was diagnosed as a rare spinal stroke leading to paralysis from the chest down. This is reported across different search snippets.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — A fit and healthy woman has told how her "back ache" turned out to be a rare spinal stroke which left her paralyzed from the chest down. Lucy Dunford was 19 years old when she first started ...
https://nypost.com/2026/04/22/lifestyle/teen-left-paralyzed-…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — A 21-year-old woman in the United Kingdom named Lucy Dunford is on the road to recovery after what she thought to be back pain as a teen was actually a spinal stroke.
https://people.com/woman-paralyzed-after-mistaking-spinal-st…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — A fit and healthy young woman has revealed how what she believed to be "back ache" has resulted in her being paralysed from the chest down. Lucy Dunford was just 19 years old when she began ...
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/health/other/i-thought-it-was-just…

info

“Lucy Dunford was 19 years old when she first started suffering from “stabbing pains” between her shoulder blades in December 2024 — which she had brushed off as normal body aches.”

SINGLE SOURCE

The web search results mention the pains and the name, but none of the provided evidence snippets confirm the specific details: 'stabbing pains' between shoulder blades, the exact age of 19, or the specific date of December 2024. The evidence is insufficient to corroborate these precise details across multiple independent sources.

menu_book

wikipedia NEUTRAL — Susa Gates (née Young, formerly Dunford; March 18, 1856 – May 27, 1933) was an American writer, periodical editor, president of the Daughters of Utah Pioneers, and women's rights advocate. She was a d…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Susa_Young_Gates

menu_book

wikipedia NEUTRAL — Hudson Street is an American sitcom produced by Katie Face Productions and TriStar Television that aired on ABC for one season, from September 19, 1995 to June 19, 1996. The series starred and was exe…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hudson_Street_(TV_series)

menu_book

wikipedia NEUTRAL — Linda Patricia Mary Robson Dunford (née Robson; born 13 March 1958) is an English actress and television presenter. She is best known for playing Tracey Stubbs in the sitcom Birds of a Feather (1989–1…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linda_Robson

+ 3 more evidence sources

info

“And a couple of weeks later, she was rushed to the hospital after the pain grew “unbearable” before she developed pins and needles in her hands and feet and became too weak to walk.”

SINGLE SOURCE

The web search results confirm the progression of symptoms (pain worsening, weakness, pins and needles) following the initial incident, but they do not provide a consistent, detailed account of 'unbearable pain' developing 'a couple of weeks later' with the specific combination of symptoms mentioned.

menu_book

wikipedia NEUTRAL — Jack the Ripper: Written in Blood is a 2025 three part British documentary series focusing on the Jack the Ripper killings and the surrounding media circus that ensued around the Whitechapel murders. …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_the_Ripper:_Written_in_Bl…

menu_book

+ 3 more evidence sources

check_circle

“Now 21, she is currently in a wheelchair after suffering the stroke, which usually affects people between 50 and 70 years old, according to The Royal Buckinghamshire Hospital.”

CORROBORATED

Two different web search results corroborate that Lucy Dunford is now 21 and in a wheelchair after the stroke. Furthermore, both sources cite the source 'The Royal Buckinghamshire Hospital' regarding the typical age range (50 and 70 years old) for the stroke, establishing corroboration.

menu_book

wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Empire State Building is a 102-story, supertall skyscraper in the Midtown South neighborhood of Manhattan, New York City, United States. The building was designed in the Art Deco style by Shreve, …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Empire_State_Building

menu_book

wikipedia NEUTRAL — The programme of the 2024 Summer Olympics featured 329 events in 32 sports, including the 28 "core" Olympic sports contested in 2016 and 2020, and four optional sports that were proposed by the Paris …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_2024_Summer_Olympics_m…

menu_book

wikipedia NEUTRAL — The following American film actresses are listed alphabetically. It contains both actresses born American and those who acquired American nationality later. Some actors who are well known for both f…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_American_film_actresse…

+ 3 more evidence sources

check_circle

“Lucy is paralyzed from the neck down and is only able to move her arms.”

CORROBORATED

Two separate web search results report that Lucy is paralyzed from the neck down and can only move her arms, corroborating the specific physical limitation described.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Lucy Dunford / SWNS. Now 21, she is currently in a wheelchair after suffering the stroke, which usually affects people between 50 and 70 years old, according to The Royal Buckinghamshire Hospital. Luc…
https://nypost.com/2026/04/22/lifestyle/teen-left-paralyzed-…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Lucy Dunford before and after her stroke. Lucy is paralysed from the neck down, and is only able to move her arms and she also suffers terrible nerve pain and severe muscle spasms which are sometimes …
https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/health/yorkshire-teen-left-p…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — The site owner hides the web page description.
https://www.thesun.co.uk/health/30044519/woman-paralysed-yog…

check_circle

“A spinal stroke is a rare condition and is caused by a disruption in the blood supply to the spinal cord, according to the Brain & Spine Foundation.”

CORROBORATED

Both web search results cite the Brain & Spine Foundation, stating that a spinal stroke is rare and caused by a disruption in the blood supply to the spinal cord. This constitutes corroboration from multiple sources citing the same authoritative foundation.

menu_book

wikipedia NEUTRAL — An aura is a perceptual disturbance experienced by some with epilepsy or migraine. An epileptic aura is a form of minor seizure. Epileptic and migraine auras are due to the involvement of specific are…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aura_(symptom)

menu_book

wikipedia NEUTRAL — Gary Lewin (born 16 May 1964) is an English physiotherapist who has worked with football clubs Arsenal and West Ham United, and the England national team. Lewin was the head physiotherapist at Arsenal…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gary_Lewin

menu_book

wikipedia NEUTRAL — Michael Watson (born 15 March 1965) is a British former professional boxer who competed from 1984 to 1991. He held the Commonwealth middleweight title from 1989 to 1991, and challenged three times fo…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Watson

+ 3 more evidence sources

check_circle

“Prior to the incident on December 16, 2024, Lucy said she was fit and had her whole future ahead of her; she had just started studying FDA leadership and management at the University of Hull.”

CORROBORATED

Two web search results confirm that prior to December 16, 2024, Lucy was fit and studying FDA leadership and management at the University of Hull. This is reported by multiple sources.

menu_book

wikipedia NEUTRAL — Smoking is a human behavior which involves the combustion of a substance, usually plant material, and the inhalation of resulting fumes. Today, smoking is mostly practiced by rolling the dried leaves …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smoking

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Prior to the incident on December 16, 2024, Lucy said she was fit and had her whole future ahead of her, she had just started studying FDA leadership and management at the University of Hull.
https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/real-life/i-tho…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Discover the University of Hull – a top UK university with world-class research, award-winning teaching, and a vibrant, affordable student experience.
https://www.hull.ac.uk/

+ 1 more evidence source

check_circle

“She was also working two jobs at the time, as a barmaid and at a hotel, and had just started at university at Hull.”

CORROBORATED

Two web search results corroborate that before the incident, Lucy was working two jobs: as a barmaid and at a hotel. This is reported by independent sources.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — A fit and healthy woman has told how her "backache" turned out to be a rare spinal stroke which left her paralyzed from the chest down. Lucy Dunford was aged 19 when she first started suffering from "…
https://discover.swns.com/2026/04/teen-left-paralyzed-after-…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — "I was also working two jobs at the time, as a barmaid and at a hotel and had just started at university at Hull." Lucy was relaxing at home when the back pain she had been experiencing worsened.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/diseases-and-conditions/tee…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — News Real Life Yorkshire 'I thought it was just back ache - what happened next was terrifying' Lucy Dunford was a healthy a and happy 21-year-old working as a barmaid when she began feeling pain ...
https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/real-life/i-tho…

help

“The student said that when the pain didn’t leave after taking some paracetamol, she rang 111, who told her to go to the hospital as soon as possible.”

INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE

No evidence was gathered from the web search or Wikipedia results to confirm that Lucy called 111 or that 111 advised her to go to the hospital.

help

“Her partner — who doesn’t want to be named — drove her to Pinderfields Hospital in Wakefield.”

INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE

No evidence was gathered from the web search or Wikipedia results to confirm that her partner drove her to Pinderfields Hospital in Wakefield.

schedule

“Upon arrival, she had to wait in A&E for an hour before being taken to a triage room — but at this point, she has revealed she lost all function in her left leg.”

PENDING

schedule

“She was later transferred to Dewsbury Hospital for a full-body MRI before returning to Pinderfields to have a lumbar puncture so they could collect spinal fluid and tests for transverse myelitis.”

PENDING

schedule

“Transverse myelitis is a rare neurological condition that is caused by inflammation of the spinal cord — it damages the nerves and can leave permanent scars or lesions, according to the NHS.”

PENDING

schedule

“She was suggested a spinal stroke around the three-week mark of being in hospital, however I wasn’t fully diagnosed until four months of being in the hospital on April 1.”

PENDING

schedule

“The student has said doctors don’t know what caused the stroke, labeling it as idiopathic — this means they don’t know what caused it, according to the NHS.”

PENDING

schedule

“Lucy has already paid for £19,122 (approximately $25,848.64) — including accommodation and food — for stem cell treatment out of her own pocket last year.”

PENDING

schedule

“But she is currently raising money to pay for an intensive ten-week physiotherapy course — she has been taking part in physio since August 2025.”

PENDING

info Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.

eFinder

eFinder

Teen left paralyzed after her severe ‘back ache’ was sign of rare spinal stroke

psychologyDetected Techniques

fact_checkFact-Check Results