A man in Santa Cruz, California, suffered a stroke after a violent sneeze caused a tear in an artery in his neck, nearly costing him his life. Ian Applegate, 35, was in his car with his wife and young son when he sneezed three times. The third sneeze triggered a blinding headache, dizziness, and severe pain that spread across his neck and face, causing numbness on his left side. After being rushed to the hospital, doctors discovered that the sneeze had caused a tear in the vertebral artery, leading to a stroke.

Ian was treated with blood thinners and spent 24 hours in the ICU. Although he is recovering, he faces challenges, including difficulty swallowing and walking. He is focused on rehabilitation to regain his strength in time for the birth of his second child, a baby girl. Ian’s experience has left him scared to sneeze and worried about his ability to care for his family. His sister has launched a fundraising campaign to assist with medical expenses.