Harold Crawford, in Cape Town’s Groote Schuur Hospital since suffering a stroke 16 days ago, is making such a good recovery  that he is expected to be able to leave  his present ward by the weekend.

His daughter Michelle Rix said yesterday: “My father is doing well and the doctors are very happy with his progress. He will spend another couple of days in hospital and then he has to do a mandatory six weeks’ rehab before going back home.”

There were initial fears about the paralysis in his left arm and left side, and there was concern that he might need a second operation. The first was to ease the pressure on his brain following the carotid artery clot that caused the stroke.

But his daughter said: “Everything is good and all clear, and he is walking and talking once more. The movement has all come back and he now has full function of his entire body.”

She was always confident that he would pull through, pointing out that he is a strong individual, and she confirmed this yesterday, adding: “They don’t make them like they used to in his day!”

By Michael Clower