A ballroom dance legend who trained professionals for Strictly Come Dancing has been left unable to walk after suffering from a stroke, which has seen her require constant care

Professional dancer Jane, who trained Strictly stars, has been left unable to walk after a stroke(Image: BBC/ Warren Bullock)

A Strictly Come Dancing legend has been left unable to walk after a stroke. Jane Bullock, 60, is known for training several of the professional dancers on the BBC, having previously made a name for herself in the ballroom dancing world.

But after teaching a dance class in August last year, the ZigZag Dance Factory boss collapsed at home while carrying out chores. Her husband, Warren, said her life had been “destroyed” within minutes.

In a new interview, Warren explained that Jane was left staggering across the room before falling on the floor. He said that he instantly noticed that Jane’s mouth had dropped and she could only use one arm and one leg, recognising that she had suffered from a stroke.

Jane Bullock’s life has been ‘destroyed’ after suffering a stroke(Image: BBC/ Warren Bullock)

Jane was subsequently rushed to New Cross Hospital in Wolverhampton, before being transferred to a specialist unit at Royal Stoke University Hospital. Medical staff soon discovered that she had a blood clot in her carotid artery, which carries oxygenated blood to the brain, neck and face.

Following a brain scan, it was discovered that Jane had also suffered from a midline shift, a displacement of brain tissue across the centre line of the brain. Part of her skull was removed during surgery to relieve the swelling. “She spent about a month on life support and a ventilator,” Warren told BBC News.

Jane has been receiving hospital treatment for seven months and is also receiving rehabilitation treatment at West Park Hospital. Since her stroke, she has been left paralysed on her left side. Warren also disclosed that there have been cognitive changes with Jane, who can no longer tell the time or use a TV remote.

The professional dancer was on life support, as well as a ventilator (Image: BBC/ Warren Bullock)

“She’s become very depressed; she feels like she’s lost everything,” he added. Jane is set to be discharged from the hospital soon, but her husband fears that he will be left with no help due to their children living far away and the cost of professional care being too high.

He says he has “no support” before telling the publication that it’s been suggested he give up his job as 24-hour care costs around £2,000 per week, which he cannot afford.

Speaking to the publication, Warren added: “It’s destroyed her life, but it’s impacted mine massively too. The only reason I keep going is because if she didn’t have me, who would she have? I’m trying to do her job and mine. We’ve lost her income, so it’s been a financial struggle as well as an emotional one.”

Jane now requires constant care(Image: Gofundme)

Warren added that Jane has been a “good person” and his sole mission now is to make her life “worthwhile and enjoyable”. A fundraiser which will help the couple adapt their home and support Jane’s needs has since reached over £46,000.

Writing on GoFundMe, Warren said: “On 10th August, our world stopped. Jane suffered a catastrophic stroke and brain bleed that very nearly took her life. She needed resuscitation and spent nearly a month in ICU on a ventilator. Nothing prepares you for standing at a bedside, not knowing if the person you love will survive, or what life will look like if they do.”

Both Warren and Jane have danced professionally for their entire lives, training Strictly professionals, as well as professional stars on the US edition, Dancing With The Stars. They also went on to build a ballroom at their home in Wolverhampton.

Meanwhile, their Channel 5 show, Baby Ballroom, originally released in 2017, featured the couples that they had trained, was later released on Netflix and was streamed in over 40 countries across the globe.