DOCTORS signed his death certificate and were about to turn off his life support machine – but then Alex Opare-Darko made a startling recovery.

After suffering a massive stroke last summer the 45-year-old was told he would spend the rest of his life in a vegetative state unable even to eat or speak.

And now, after months of physiotherapy, not only is he alive and well but he is even thinking of returning to work.

On July 11 2015, Alex popped into Tesco in The Parade, had a stroke and was immediately airlifted to Bristol’s Southmead Hospital and put in intensive care.

His memory of that fateful day is very hazy. “I felt myself falling backwards and I remember the manager telling people to call for an ambulance, but that’s all,” he said.

Meanwhile, Alex’s wife Nydia, 49, who teaches design technology at Faringdon Community College, went home and waited for him to return, worried and wondering where he could possibly be, when a policeman came the door to deliver the terrible news.

“I went into a panic and couldn’t think straight,” said Nydia. “All I thought about was to grab a toothbrush and an overnight bag.

When she got to the hospital, she was devastated by what she saw.

“When I saw him in the hospital I couldn’t believe it. He was buried under wires and everything in the room was bleeping.

“They said it wasn’t looking good at all. They tried to make him as comfortable as possible but his brain was swelling at an incredible rate.”

The next twelve months involved Nydia trying to persuade doctors to keep her husband alive, despite their better judgement.

“They wanted to switch off the machine because they were convinced he would not survive but I wouldn’t accept that. I battled them for months because I knew he wasn’t ready to die.”

Astonishingly, doctors declared him dead three times and even signed his death certificate in anticipation of the inevitable.

“When they handed me his death certificate I threw back in their faces,” said Nydia. “I refused to believe he was dead.

Alex, who was frequently moved between different hospitals, arrived at the GWH from Bristol on July 29,was then moved on the Bristol Brain Injury Rehabilitation Centre on September 15, before arriving at Salisbury Glenside rehab unit on March 9.

He finally returned to his Park South home last Wednesday.

Alex, whose unwavering Christian faith helped him through his ordeal, said: “I believe there is a God and with him anything is possible. If you trust him to do something, he will do it and I trust him now more than ever.”

Alex is employed as a manager at Swindon Borough Council and is keen to get back to work as soon as he can.

An elated Nydia said: “I don’t want to stop telling the world. I saw how down people were in the hospital and we want to empower them and say to people that, if you believe, anything is possible.”

Nursing assistant and the GWH Taneak Douglas, known to friends as Pinky, who was involved in helping Alex recover, said: “The Alex that first came into the hospital and the Alex that left are two completely different people.

“It’s is an absolute miracle. I’m lost for words, it is just unbelievable. It can only be the work of God. He died three times and the last time they wanted to turn the machine off. It’s a miracle that he’s alive today.

“I go to church because of Alex. I’ve always believed in god but I never used to take church seriously. I go all the time now, though.”

A spokesman for North Bristol NHS Trust disputed the claims made by the family.

He said: "We acknowledge that Mr Opare-Darko and his family have been through an extremely difficult time and we are pleased that he has made a good recovery.

"Due to the life-threatening nature and severity of his stroke, the clinical experts treating him in intensive care had serious concerns on whether he would recover.

"Frequent discussions took place with his wife and family regarding his treatment and the potential outcomes which, at the outset, included possible death or permanent disability.

"At no point during his three weeks at Southmead Hospital was he declared dead and his wife was not asked to sign a death certificate. At no stage was any life-saving treatment denied.

"If Mr Opare-Darko or his family have any questions or would like to discuss his care with us, we would be happy to meet with them."