A young couple were enjoying their travels in Vietnam when the husband suddenly became seriously ill and fell into a coma. Iain Gilbert, of Cardiff, regained consciousness in a Ho Chi Minh City hospital but the 34-year-old is not currently able to speak.
Iain, originally from Australia, and Rachel, 32, from Raglan in Monmouthshire, had spent eight months travelling in his home country, where they got married last October. Before heading home to Cardiff they decided to visit Vietnam. The couple arrived last Saturday but soon afterwards Iain fell ill. On Tuesday night the financial journalist experienced excruciating head pain, vomiting, and then deterioration in speech and movement. He was rushed to hospital in such a serious condition that Rachel feared he had suffered a stroke.
A scan revealed a large brain tumour and within hours Iain had slipped into a coma. The family understand it took less than a day for him to emerge and be responsive again, mostly through eye contact. Rachel's sister Suzanne Atkins told WalesOnline on Thursday: "He is not speaking but Rachel has been speaking to him. His response to being told about the brain tumour was mouthing the words: 'Oh, brilliant.' It was a very Iain response.
