Meet Mr Happy, the stroke victim who cannot feel sadness

Malcolm has been in a state of constant happiness for the past nine years after a stroke damaged the part of his brain that controls his emotions.

The retired lorry driver had been fit and healthy and a former class one football referee but became so ill after suffering a stroke he was given the last rites in January 2004.

He spent 19 weeks in hospital but fought back to make a recovery, despite being left with no function in his left arm and only able to walk short distances with the aid of a stick.

The 68-year-old from Staffordshire is now in the early stages of vascular dementia, triggered by a reduced blood flow to the brain following the stroke. But it has left him unable to feel sadness.

"I am never depressed," he said.

"Being sad wouldn't help anything anyway. I would definitely rather be happy all the time than the other way round. It's an advantage really.

"The stroke could have become my worst enemy but I wouldn't let it. Now I barely even notice that I don't feel sadness.

"I've always been a happy person and loved telling jokes, but now I don't ever feel sad.

Malcolm added:?"I remember that I used to be able to feel sad, if something bad happened – but it just doesn't happen any more."

Experts say it is not uncommon for strokes to cause psychological, emotional and behavioural changes.

His wife Kath, a former computer tutor at Cannock College, and the couple's daughter, Beverley Lloyd, 31, said Mr Myatt's condition meant he was unable to curb his happy persona and sometimes left them feeling like they were living with a child. But while the condition can be trying at times for the family, they said the couple's grandchildren, Aaron and Dominic, can't wait to visit their 'hilarious' grandad.

Mrs Myatt added: "Malcolm doesn't cry, he just doesn't know how to be sad anymore.

"But he's infectious. When he starts laughing everyone in the room does.

"We have been to funerals and I've been on tenterhooks wondering what he might come out with."

His wife also said Mr Myatt has lost the ability to judge what is and isn't appropriate to say in public.

"It's worst when we go to a funeral. He'll still be smiling and telling jokes while everyone else is completely sombre," she added.

"Most of the time people know him and understand, but we do try to keep him to one side just in case."

The pair, who live in Hednesford, are both active in their local area.

Mr Myatt defied the odds to complete the Duke of Edinburgh scheme in 2005 and has carried out voluntary work for the 4th Hightown Rainbows guide group where his wife is a Guider.

They have also both supported the Alzheimer's Society Cannock Chase Memory Walk which sees a large posse of dogs walked for the charity.

Over the years, strokes have impacted people in a wide variety of ways.

Only last year, a 27-year-old rugby player Chris Birch from Wales said he woke up gay after suffering a stroke.

Dr Clare Walton, research communications officer at the Stroke Association, said: "While we haven't heard before of stroke survivors completely losing the ability to feel a particular emotion, many find it very difficult to control their emotions and may cry or laugh at inappropriate times.,