Viral star 'felt trapped in my mind' after stroke

Danny Malin says he suffered two strokes in February last year and has since been recovering

A man whose social media videos rating takeaways across the country went viral has said getting support for his mental health after suffering two strokes in just two weeks was the "best thing he ever did".

Danny Malin, 45, from Leeds, became known for his Rate My Takeaway videos on YouTube, in which he would sit outside cafes tucking into what he called "amazing scran".

Mr Malin said he had chosen to speak out about the health problems he has faced since February 2024 after receiving online abuse for looking and sounding different in his more recent videos.

He said he was now recovering and was getting help for his mental health, but added: "It was a difficult time talking about it afterwards."

Speaking to BBC Radio Leeds, Mr Malin explained that he had been getting ready to go out for a family meal in February last year when he "suddenly came over a bit fuzzy and went blank from there".

"I could feel I was having a hot flush and feeling dizzy," he said.

"Then, the next thing I knew, my wife Sophie and children were round me saying my left side had dropped and I was slurring my words."

Mr Malin said he went to hospital, where scans revealed he had a blood clot in his brain which had caused the stroke.

'Words are gone'

After having suffered a second stroke a short time later, Mr Malin said he took a few weeks off from filming his videos.

However, he said he had "missed a bit of content and put a bit of weight on" and had started receiving abuse online as a result.

"The comments kept coming in and people were saying that I didn't look myself and I wasn't making sense. But I was just waiting for the right time to talk about it," he said.

"It feels like I'm in a glass box and I'm banging it but nobody can hear, as sometimes when you're trapped in your mind and you know what you want to say, but the words are gone."

Mr Malin said speaking to a psychologist had helped his recovery, adding it was important to talk about how suffering a stroke can affect people.

"The best thing I did was get help for it," he said.

"There are people in your life who will support you, but if you haven't got that, there are plenty of charities out there.

"Speak to your GP and be persistent, as they will get you on that waiting list to speak to someone."

What are the symptoms of a stroke?

• The best way to remember the symptoms is the word FAST, which stands for: face, arms, speech and time to call 999, according to the NHS website

• One of the main symptoms is face weakness, when one side of the face droops and it may be hard to smile

• Another is arm weakness, where the sufferer may not be able to fully lift both arms due to weakness or numbness in one arm

• And someone having a stroke may have speech problems and slur their words

• Anyone having a stroke, or thinks someone they know is having one, is urged to call 999 immediately

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