A young woman who was given a 50/50 chance of death or paralysis after a massive stroke has stunned medics - and made a miraculous full recovery.

Ellie Edwards said she feels "blessed" to be alive after she stunned medics who broke NHS protocol to perform a risky procedure to remove a clot in her brain.

The super-fit youngster had a massive stroke February, just before her 22nd birthday, which left her fighting for her life.

But now, less than six months later, Ellie is fighting fit after surgeons performed a risky operation to remove the clot in her brain.

The former back row from Surbiton, south west London, said: "I feel blessed, will forever be grateful to the surgeon for giving me a chance to live.

"They shouldn’t have performed the operation because it was more than five hours after my stroke but the doctor thought I might pull through because of my age so they gave it a try.