WATCH: How Ulster's Chris Henry recovered from stroke to reach testimonial year
The 33-year-old flanker is marking a decade with his home province
Last updated 15th Aug 2018
In November 2014, Chris Henry was 30 years old, waking up in a Dublin hotel as he prepared to play for Ireland.
As he stood in front of the bathroom mirror, he was suddenly struck by several dramatic symptoms of a stroke.
"I lost all strength down my right side, in my arm, and my face dropped. It was really terrifying. It lasted about four or five minutes."
"My father suffered a stroke, so I knew the symptoms. But I sat there thinking, 'surely a fit guy, a professional rugby player suffering a mini stroke - it just doesn't add up,'" says Henry.
Chris was soon diagnosed as having a hole in his heart, which ultimately caused the stroke.
Despite the severity of the sudden development, Henry was back on the pitch in the white of Ulster 4 months later.
"I was just terrified. I knew the doctors said I could play, but deep down I was thinking about that first tackle, getting my head into a ruck. Am I going to be okay?"
"My next goal was to make it to the World Cup, and luckily I was able to go on and play in the 2015 quarter final," says Henry.
Several years later, the versatile back row is still going strong.
This coming season marks his 10th campaign with Ulster, and he'll become the first player to be recognised with a testimonial year.
Rather than a one-off match, a series of events will be held to help raise money for the Chest, Heart and Stroke charity, beginning with the pre-season fixture with Gloucester.
"It just seems surreal that we've got this far and I'm still able to play. My priorities weren't about getting back onto the rugby pitch. I wanted to make sure I could drive a car again, that I could speak properly."
"From meeting other people who weren't as lucky, I just feel very blessed that I'm over that now," says Henry.