Legendary England coach Gary Street is “struggling to breathe” after a planned operation led to a blood clot on his brain and a stroke that’s left him unable to walk and talk, his wife has said. Gary, 56, guided England’s women rugby team to victory in 2014 after two decades of losses.
But now the former England head coach is facing a lengthy recovery after complications from a planned heart bypass operation in August 2023.
His wife Helen, 48, and his two teenage sons Ben and Peter, have been by his side as they navigate his recovery.
Speaking to the Express today, Helen said Gary has “taken a turn” as doctors treat him for a chest infection.
Speaking from the hospital, she said: “He’s exhausted because he’s been struggling to breathe. We’re disheartened he’s had to leave the rehab centre in Surrey.”
After spending four weeks in intensive care following his operation in August, Gary suffered extensive damage that affected his speech, breathing and movement. He was left paralysed on his right side and has been unable to communicate since.
Despite a sceptical prognosis, Gary has relearned how to swallow, regained some mobility, worked on developing core strength and begun walking short distances.
But this latest setback is just the latest in complications, with Gary also suffering from a lung infection and sepsis in recent months.
Helen continued: “Hopefully, this infection will clear up quite quickly and we can get back to the rehab place. They’ve given us a target discharge date of March 7 and at that point he will come home. Strokes can take a year to two years to completely recover. No one can tell us what kind of recovery he will make.
“He has learned to walk short distances again but in terms of his speech, no one can give me a guarantee. It’s horrible to deal with the thought of him not getting back to his usual self.”
The family have launched a fundraiser to help with ongoing rehabilitation costs, including speech therapy. The GoFundMe fundraiser has received more than 1,000 donations amounting to £42,405 so far.
Helen described the support as “overwhelming” as she says the family hope the money will give Gary “every chance of rebuilding and regaining the life he once had”.
She added: “I’m keeping the children occupied. The eldest has coping mechanisms but the youngest is just 13 and he’s struggling. With the fundraising, it’s been so overwhelming. We have every chance of getting him back to normal.”
Gary had been staying at a rehabilitation centre in Surrey where he “surpassed doctors’ expectations” and is on the road to recovery. To donate, visit here.
