Axed Corrie star Chris Fountain's life now - stroke and scary fear for future

20 September 2023 , 11:00

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Chris Fountain's life has changed drastically in the last few years (Image: Getty)

For many, Chris Fountain will be best known for his role as Justin Burton on Hollyoaks, where he starred in the show for just short of 150 episodes between 2003 and 2009. But others might know him as Tommy Duckworth on Coronation Street, a part he held for three years before notably being axed from the soap in 2013.

Fountain, who had also previously taken part in Dancing on Ice and Just the Two of Us was fired from Corrie after videos surfaced of him rapping about rape and violence under an alias known as 'The Phantom'. An ITV spokesperson said at the time: "Chris Fountain's contract with ITV has been terminated as a result of the unacceptable comments he made in a number of online clips." The actor issued a statement shortly afterward admitting he was "deeply ashamed by the lyrics"

Chris played Tommy Duckworth on Coronation Street (ITV/REX/Shutterstock)

The actor was axed from Corrie in 2013 (Ken McKay/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)

Since then Fountain's life has taken a rather tragic turn, with the 36-year-old suffering with his health. In August 2022 he revealed he had suffered a mini stroke, spending five days in a London hospital after waking up at home and finding himself unable to speak properly. The actor has spoken openly about how the ordeal changed his life, explaining that doctors discovered he had a Transient Ischaemic Attack (TIA), known as a mini stroke, after a blood clot lodged in his brain.

Fountain previously told the Mirror he was gripped by 'sheer panic' as he realised something was wrong. "I woke up one morning and knew something wasn't right," he said. "My mum called me and I just couldn't get my words out. I started walking around my house looking at things and I could think what the word was, like television or fridge, but I couldn't say it. I called 111 on my mum's advice and they sent an ambulance for me, it was so scary.

"I felt stupid because I knew exactly what I wanted to say to the doctors, but I couldn't get the words out, I was speaking like a toddler, I was really embarrassed. When the doctors confirmed I'd had a TIA and said the word stroke, I just couldn't believe it, there was a moment of sheer panic just fearing what it meant for the rest of my life. Would I have another one? Would the next one be even worse and I'd lose the use of my arms or legs? I was really scared and just broke down in tears."

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He added: "What's scary is if I hadn't called 111 when I did and got to hospital so quickly I don't know if that clot could have travelled to the wrong place in my brain, I could have died. That clot was like a ticking bomb in my head."

Medics got the clot under control and further tests showed the Bradford-born actor had a hole in his heart, which caused the blood clot to travel to his brain and trigger the stroke. He's since had to have heart surgery to patch up the hole and hopefully prevent anything like this from happening again in the future and he's been working with a speech therapist to retrain his brain. regaining 90 percent of his speech.

He suffered a mini stroke after a blood clot travelled to his brain (Instagram/ @fountain1987)

His heart surgery was in May of this year and he found the procedure 'nerve-wracking' to prepare for. He updated his fans on social media after the treatment, when he was back on his feet. He said: "Yes guys back on my feet [doctors] have cleared me to walk a little bit. My groin is still hurting, it's sore and aching but I am glad to be out of bed because my legs were starting to go numb.

"What a day. I have to be honest, I was really quite nervous when I went into the anaesthetist room. It all became very real. But it was a night. It was really nice when I started to go to sleep. It felt lovely. I've just had some tests. They came to do some echocardiograms just to check the device is in the right place and working and not leaking and all that. So far so good."

Fountain has since overhauled his life but has shared his terrifying fear of having another stroke in the future. One year on from his mini stroke he shared his health progress online with followers, sharing a snap of himself in hospital. He captioned the post, writing: "1 year ago today. Life can change in an instant, I've had to make a lot of changes but things have gotten so much better. Be as positive as you can be, live life to the full and do not give up, no matter how hard things get.

"It's kind of been a weird thing to wrap my head around. Part of me is worrying thinking 'Am I going to have another one today'. But then part of me is also super proud of how I've recovered. My speech is pretty much back to normal, I've run a marathon, I'm fit again." He went on to thank his fans and followers for their support over the "interesting year", adding: "This time last year, I was staying in a hospital bed wondering what the hell is happening and here I am now feeling great."

As well as building up his speech and fitness, he's now determined to rebuild his acting career, and won't let anyone stand in his way. "Acting is all I have ever known. I have worked professionally as an actor since I was 14 and until someone tells me my acting ability is not up to standard I won't give up on it," he added.

Courtney Pochin