'I came out of coma convinced I was in the US with £50k and would meet Rihanna'

04 August 2023 , 01:32

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Mark Gibbs (Image: Mark Gibb / SWNS)

A Scotsman says he spent five weeks after being woken from a coma convinced he was in California, had won £50k - and Rihanna was on her way to see him.

Mark Gibbs, 42, was sure his life had changed for the better - and says he was "gutted" when he came back to reality. But, despite the amusement, Mark now wants to use his experience as a cautionary tale about substance abuse.

He has lost the use of his left arm and now struggles with his speech but has been sober ever since. Previously a hospital porter, Mark, from Ayrshire, said: "I’m a walking advert for not taking drink or drugs.”

Mark was rushed to University Hospital Crosshouse after he was found slumped and unconscious in his home in April 2023. Doctors discovered he had liver and kidney failure due to his struggles with alcohol and drug abuse, and he was put in a coma.

And after waking up his hallucinations made him adamant he was in California, had won £50k - and pop signer Rihanna was coming to see him. The illusion lasted for five weeks before he realised it wasn’t real and was “gutted”, he claims.

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He spent five weeks after his coma convinced he was in California (Mark Gibb / SWNS)

Mark was told he had suffered two strokes and spent eight weeks in hospital recovering before he was able to come home. He said: “I thought I was in California. I thought Rhianna was coming to see me and I had won £50k. When I had the realisation it wasn’t real I was a bit gutted.”

Mark admits he has struggled with alcohol and drug abuse since aged 14 and had drunk too much and collapsed at his home on April 3 2023. His mum found him after she didn’t hear from him for two days and called an ambulance. Mark said: “My mum found me slumped in the shower. It was a matter of life or death.”

Mark now wants to use his experience as a cautionary tale (Mark Gibb / SWNS)

Mark was in a coma for two weeks before coming round but was hallucinating for five weeks. He said: “For five weeks I was convinced. At the time it did seem real. The doctors never could give any reason.”

The health scare was a wake up call for Mark and he has been sober since April. Due to suffering two strokes he has now lost the use of his left arm and his speech is impacted.

He said: “My legs are still weak. I want to build them up to play football again. The nerves are totally dead in my left arm and hand. I can just twitch my fingers."

Emma Dunn