Student, 21, suffers a STROKE during a half marathon - forcing doctors to chop out part of his skull to save his life

Student Alex Valentine, 21, from Dorset, could run 20 miles before he suffered from a stroke in May last year (right). 

It meant part of his skull had to be removed by doctors (left) to ease the swelling, leaving him with scarring (top middle). 

He spent months in hospital (bottom middle) and has had to relearn how to talk and walk again. But the Leeds University student is determined to run again one day and return to his degree in electronics to develop technology to help others with disabilities. 

'To be honest, every morning of my life I am able to get up and wash without the assistance of a carer I will be truly thankful for,' he said.

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