A model has survived suffering a stroke aged 26 but this is just the last in a long line of death-defying incidents.
Jaden Hoedemaker has already lived through being bitten by a deadly spider, getting trapped on a mountain, a horror car crash and nearly drowning.
The young man’s life is a series of calamities as he appears to have nine lives – with five incidents so far.
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The latest shock came while he was having an early morning shower in a hotel, as he was rushed to hospital after having a stroke.
“Modelling has allowed me to travel to places all over the world, not necessarily just to model,” he told Need To Know.
“I remember waking up really excited ready to check out of the hotel and go adventuring.
“I stepped in the shower, closed my eyes feeling the water and when I opened my eyes all of a sudden I felt weird.
“I got dressed, felt a lot of confusion, a bit dizzy and then I tried telling my friend I felt a bit weird – but the words were not coming out of my mouth.
“I thought I was just really tired so I laid down for 30 minutes but when I got up again, nothing had changed, I still couldn’t talk.
“I then phoned my friend who is a doctor and she recognised I might be having a stroke.”
Jaden, who was travelling in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, at the time of the incident claims he was instructed by doctors to “take a paracetamol”.
He said: “[At the first hospital]. I was told I needed to just take a paracetamol.
“[We then went to another hospital but they] did not take me seriously either, they said I was dehydrated.
“My doctor friend said I needed to see a neurologist.
“So after I arrived in Sao Paulo [the next destination on my travel list], I went to another hospital and told them I needed a neurologist because I might have had a stroke.
“I was admitted into ICU and they confirmed that I had just had a stroke and I needed to recover.”
Jaden was admitted and had to recover in hospital for two weeks.
He says there were no warning signs to his stroke but he puts it down to his hectic lifestyle.
Jaden believes his survival was down to his strong faith in God.
He said: “My life has been full of misfortune.
“I was bitten by a deadly spider at five, stranded at the edge of a mountain and air lifted to safety with my friends when I was 17.
“I almost drowned while surfing in Bali at 23 and had a near fatal car crash when I was 22.
“It’s easy to just become depressed but prayer got me out of that when I had no idea how I was going to get through things.
“I have always believed in God and that I have these guardian angels.
“The doctors said they found no signs that could have led to a stroke – I live a healthy lifestyle, no drugs, no alcohol, good diet.
“I may have overworked myself for a very long time though.
“Doing 10 things at once was never a good idea, even though my blood pressure was completely normal.
“I think I should have slowed down a bit, I lived my life at 200mph.
“The doctors said I had a full spontaneous recovery – those words don’t leave my head – by God’s grace I believe.”
Jaden is now back to modelling but can no longer surf, which was his favourite physical activity.
He said: “I remember getting out the hospital feeling fragile mentally and physically, I thought the awesome life I lived might be gone.
“I am taking it very easy.
“Unfortunately I can’t surf, that’s usually my main form of physical and mental exercise.
“I just can’t risk any blows to the head right now until they find out the cause of the stroke.
“[But I have] started modelling again and had some photoshoots, and am starting to feel confident about myself again.
“I’m feeling optimistic, energetic and joyful to just be alive.
“I never paid attention to my health; it was never the main focus as I was distracted with trying to make everything else a priority instead of just relaxing and taking time for myself.
“That’s changed now.
“Remember your health is your wealth.”
