AFTER LONG SLEEP

Greymouth Evening Star, 10 December 1934, Page 9

AFTER LONG SLEEP

MODERN lUP VAN WINKLE “How does it feel to be ‘dead’ for four years?” This was the question recently put by a “Sunday Chronicle” correspondent to Mr. Victor Stanley Cleave, of Folkestone, who for four years was in a strange trahce. Mr. Cleave is now back home with his wife and two children, and he is making splendid progress towards the complete recovery of his health. He told of one of the strangest experiences that any human can have had; Six years ago Mr. Cleave fell seriously ill. During the War he had been wounded while serving with the Royal Engineeres in France, but after discharge from hospital he had taken up his old duties on the railway. His health, however, slowly broke down, and a complete breakdown brought a crisis. Mr. Cleave was sent to the Ministry of Pensions Hospital at Cosham. Within twenty-four hours of his admittance h,e fell into a deep sleep. Four years sped by 'While he lay like a man who was dead to the world. “It was just like waking from a very deep sleep,” he said. “Time has been of no account to me. I did not know that four years of my life had slipped away. I remembered nothing after the day 1 came to the hospital a very sick/ man. „They told me 1 had been in a trance for four years. It seems incredible, but I was still too weak to worry. As the months sped by I 'felt that'l was regaining the use of my limbs, and one day 1 found tlffit I could speak again. “At first I had great difficulty in keeping my eyes open. Then came the day when I came home for a short visit to my wife and children. Back at our little home I found two grownup children waiting to greet me. '“I did not recognise them at first, for six years had passed since 1 saw them last, and then they were only babies. When 1 was able to get out a little I found a different Folkestone. There were new houses, new buildings. Someone had been busy improving the town. I was bewildered by the traffic on the roads. There were many more cars than when I was taken ill. “Yes, I am so much better now, and 1 hope to go back to work soon. I am still waiting discharge from hospital, but they have extended my leave because I am getting on so well.” Mrs. Cleave stated that while many medical men wljo saw her husband during the four-year period gave up hope; one told her three years ago that he would recover and be able to take his place again in the world with others. These words have nearly come true already.