A new NSW stroke campaign urges quick action for FAST symptoms, following a man’s near-fatal brainstem stroke with atypical signs.

A new stroke awareness campaign in Shoalhaven, backed by the NSW government and the Stroke Foundation, urges residents to recognize FAST signs—Face drooping, Arm weakness, Speech difficulty, Time to call 000—to act quickly during a stroke. The push follows the story of Kath Albertiri, who saved her husband Mario’s life after he had a brainstem stroke with atypical symptoms, including slurred speech. Stroke affects about 46,000 Australians yearly, with one in three strokes occurring in NSW. The campaign highlights that rapid response is critical, as brain cells die within minutes without blood flow, increasing the risk of long-term disability or death.