8/20/2008
Music Really Does Save Lives.
Rolling Stones classic wakes grandfather from coma
Sam Carter lost consciousness after contracting severe anaemia but was brought back to life when "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" was blared into his ears.
The anthem was the first single the retired baker from Stoke in Staffordshire ever bought, released in 1965 when he was just 17.
Despite only being given a 30 per cent chance of survival, he woke from his coma after his wife Eva, 65, took the doctor's advice and played him his favourite tunes through a set of earphones.
After three days of listening to the local Stoke station Signal 2, his eyes opened as soon as he heard the sound of Mick Jagger's vocals and Keith Richards' guitar riff.
Sam said: "I can't remember much from being in a coma, but I do remember that when that song came on it took me right back to when I was a youngster.
"I could remember how excited I was to get it down at the record shop.
"I suddenly had a burst of energy and knew I had a lot more life left in me and that's when I woke up - to the sound of the first song I ever bought."
Sam, who has three children and six grandchildren, added: "I would love to thank Mick and the rest of the Stones personally - I feel they really did help wake me from my coma."
Wife Eva said she had switched on the radio at Stoke's City General Hospital in a last-ditch attempt to bring him back a fortnight ago, after growing increasingly frustrated with his lack of progress.
She said: "I didn't really think it would work.
"I couldn't believe it when he started opening his eyes and looked at me. It was like we had been given another chance."
Material: Chris Irvine via telegraph.co.uk/news