Add ‘turning your head too quickly’ to the list of things that can potentially kill you nowadays, as this guy over in Festus, Missouri, discovered recently.

Dad-of-four Joel Hentrich, 35, tore an artery in his neck and suffered three strokes all because he turned his head too quickly during a game of pickleball – basically tennis with ping pong paddles. Joel told SWNS:

“I turned my head quickly to the left to try and track a ball. I felt a pop in the back of my neck. I wasn’t sure if anyone else could hear it — but internally I could.

Immediately my vision changed, and I had the worst vertigo I’ve ever experienced in my life. About two minutes after it happened, I was having to be helped over to the bench with support because I couldn’t stand on my own at all.

The ground went out from underneath me, and I ended up with extreme nausea and I was projectile vomiting. There was tingling on the left side of my face, hand and part of my leg.

Turning my head really quickly was something that I’ve done a million times. I was in complete shock and disbelief. You don’t think that these things will actually happen to you.”

Luckily, his friends quickly transported him to hospital where medics informed him that he had indeed dissected an artery in his neck, which triggered three strokes in his cerebellum, the portion of the brain responsible for coordination and movement.

For a while, there were fears that Joel might not be able to walk again as a result of the freak injury, but thankfully he’s recovered without any lasting damage. Still, it’s absolutely fxcking terrifying that this is something that can actually happen to a person. You could be walking down the street one day and someone across the road might call your name out. Turn your head too quickly and boom – severed artery. I’ve heard of this sort of thing happening at chiropractors or during MMA sessions but this?! I don’t know about anyone else but I’m staring dead ahead only for the rest of my days. If you need me just walk into my field of vision. Cheers.

For the League Two footballer ruled out of a game after suffering a freak injury playing XBox, click HERE. It happens.