(KNX 1070) -- A London-based paramedic is warning people about injuring yourself while stretching your neck.
Natalie Kunicki, 23, tells the Daily Mail she was in bed watching movies when she stretched her neck and heard a loud crack. She got up to go to the bathroom a few minutes later and collapsed. She was unable to move her left leg.
After initially dismissing her fall and symptoms as being having one too many drinks, Kunicki refused to call an ambulance -- embarrassed that one of her co-workers may arrive and see her inebriated.
"I'm a paramedic and I didn't ring 999 (911 in the U.S.) for 10 minutes because I thought it was too unlikely it would be a stroke when I should have known much better," the woman told the Daily Mail.
After finally making the call, an ambulance rushed Kunicki to the hospital where it was confirmed that she'd suffered from a stroke and would need emergency surgery.
Kunicki's left side was completely paralyzed. But, after weeks of physical therapy, she's been able to regain some use of her leg, arm, and hand.
She says she's helped a lot of stroke victims in her work, but most were in their 70s and 80s.
"People need to know that even if you're young something this simple can cause a stroke," Kunicki says.
To donate to Kunicki's recovery fund, click here.
