When Wodonga's Craig Arnel noticed a dizzy sensation while getting ready for work, he knew what was about to happen next.
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After suffering a stroke in April this year, the 40-year-old was dealt another in September.
The father of two was transported by paramedics to the Albury Base Hospital where he was connected with a neurologist in Melbourne through Ambulance Victoria's Stroke Telemedicine Service.
The specialist helped border doctors administer clot-busting drugs to Mr Arnel before he was later flown to the Royal Melbourne Hospital for further treatment.
Six weeks later the engineer is back at work.
"You don't feel it coming on, within a minute or two it hits you," Mr Arnel said.
"I've always been a very healthy and active person, so having a stroke was a huge shock."
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He and his wife Rosie had planned to embark on a 3000 nautical mile ocean row as part of the Atlantic Challenge this year.
The pair now hope to complete it in 2022.
They praised doctors, paramedics and the telemedicine stroke service for their fast action
"They could see him and see the condition he was in, as well as what doctors in the emergency department were saying," Mrs Arnel said. "I think that in itself was huge."
The VST service operates in 17 regional Victorian hospitals, with the state government recently announcing $21 million to expand it further over the next four years.
Ambulance Victoria's director of stroke services professor Chris Bladin said Mr Arnel's case highlights how the service helps with a better recovery.
"People in rural and regional areas are almost 20 per cent more likely to have a stroke and a poorer outcome" he said.
"The outcomes of VST are equivalent to those achieved in metropolitan Melbourne, demonstrating that telemedicine can deliver high quality health care to regional communities."
