Relative in ICU with heat stroke and is not going to make it

[SmokeyMountainRain]

Posting for traffic. Has anybody been through this? Close relative, relatively young 50s), was found incoherent last Wednesday. Rushed to hospital straight to ICU as she'd fallen into a coma. They've kept her asleep, tried to wake her twice and she cannot breath on her own whatsoever. They've ran repeated scans which show due to the heat stroke damage the part of her brain that tells her to breath is severely damaged. They've pretty much said she's incompatible with life now and we will have to turn the machines off this week unless by some miracle she wakes up. Her core temp was 41 degrees for 4 days, she's now at 40. Not responded to any medication, antibiotics etc.

She wasn't even doing anything strenuous. Just in her flat watching telly. Has anyone been through this? Does anyone have any advice? I don't even know what to think and feel it just seems so so cruel. No brain bleeds or blockages on the scan. Substantial brain swelling and damage.

posting for traffic as can't see any similar threads

Any advice or miracle stories please send them my way. Thank you x

Oh no that's sad. Wednesday was horribly hot where I was with no breeze. I know my grandpa suffered heat stroke once and recovered. I hope your relative recovers.

That’s so sad, no advice apart from to maybe try and get a second opinion?

Gosh, that’s awful. I’m sorry this happened to your loved one, and for what you and your family are going through.

Early 50s is no age, so it’s strange this happened to her. Did she have any underlying health conditions? So scary this can happen to someone not old or apparently vulnerable.

Kindly, there's a great deal of missing context here, medical conditions for one.

I'm sorry for your loss.

Does she own the flat or is it rented

That's awful, I'm so sorry. It just goes to show just how serious extreme heat can be.
I'm not sure if you're doubting the diagnosis given (& if you're not, please forgive my misinterpretation) but would Martha's Rule be relevant in this situation?
I hope you & your family are able to access support to help you through this

I'm so sorry, that sounds incredibly difficult

Obviously none of us know your family member's medical history, but I second using Martha's Rule if you have doubts about the medical advice given (even if it's just to put your mind at rest that everything possible has been done).

No medical conditions apart from insomnia and smoking

It's rented

Thanks all, she's had a CT scan and a more recent MRI this morning and they are both saying she has a 1% change of survival. She has developed an infection (double pneumonia) on her lungs from being on the vent too and isn't responding to antibiotics.

We always told her to give up smoking 😔

sorry I didn't mean to miss things out my mind is everywhere at the moment x

That’s absolutely tragic, I am so sorry 😔

Im really sorry this has happened to your family member, how sad. It sounds like whatever has happened has caused damage to her brain stem if she is no longer taking breaths- have they mentioned ‘hypoxic brain injury’ or that her brain has been starved of oxygen and that’s what caused the damage? How long was it before she was found in her flat?

I have to admit it’s a strange diagnosis that a generally able bodied adult gets heat stroke inside so badly it caused brain damage. It’s not unheard of but sadly expected in babies or very elderly who cannot seek shade to cool down or get a drink. I wonder if something caused her to become unconscious first, thus unable to get herself out of the grave situation.

I don’t know if I’m missing something but what difference does it make?

Exactly what I was thinking!

I am so sorry, Op.

I assume due to liability on the landlord

Thinking of you all. I am sorry xx

I’m not sure either but maybe they were thinking a landlord might be liable if the flat was in poor condition in some way and that caused her to overheat - or she wasn’t allowed air con (I saw a post about that on here last week)?

That's awful I'm sorry. It shows how dangerous this extreme weather can be.

Sending hugs to you and yours. So sad x

Oh sweetheart, I'm so so sorry to hear this. 50's is no age at all. Hoping you have other family to rally round and help support eachother? 💐

What's that got to do with anything?

I am so sorry. 4 days is a long time for your brain and body to be so seriously overheated.

How is this relevant

https://www.landlordtoday.co.uk/breaking-news/2026/06/legal-warning-over-tenants-and-high-temperaturesheatwave/