Man Who Was 'Locked In His Body' For Over A Decade Woke Up To Tell A Remarkable Story

In 1988, when he was still a child, Martin Pistorius fell ill with a frightening condition that ultimately led to what is commonly called locked-in syndrome (LiS).

Pistorius was only 12 when a simple sore throat appeared. It seemed minor at first, but the symptoms escalated fast and alarmed his family.

His parents rushed him to the hospital, where doctors diagnosed cryptococcal meningitis (CM) along with tuberculosis of the brain (TBM). The combination devastated his health and changed the course of his life.

Doctors tried multiple treatments without success. As his condition worsened, the South African teen developed LiS and lost almost all voluntary control.

Locked-in syndrome, also known as pseudocoma, is a rare neurological disorder where a person is conscious and aware yet unable to move or speak in typical ways.

There is no cure. Care focuses on building reliable communication methods — like eye blinks or assistive devices — and on respiratory therapy to support breathing and preserve muscle function as much as possible.

"My body weakened and I lost the ability to speak and control my movements," Pistorius admitted in a candid interview with LADbible.

He remembered the shock of losing basic abilities and the long stretch of time when he could not make his needs known, even though he understood what was happening around him.

Martin Pistorius made a miraculous recovery from 'locked-in syndrome', but his fight was an uphill battle Supplied

'It's like you don't exist'

For four years he remained in a complete vegetative state, with his mind sliding back to an infant-like awareness.

Doctors warned his family that his odds were poor, and some predicted he had less than two years to live.

"For me, that feeling of complete and utter powerlessness is probably the worst feeling I have ever experienced, and I hope I never have to experience again," he recalled.

"It's like you don't exist, every single thing in your life is decided by someone else," he went on.

"Everything, from what you wear, to what you eat and drink, even if you eat or drink, to where you will be tomorrow, or next week, and there is nothing you can do about it."

Then, around his 16th birthday, something shifted. Awareness began to return, slowly at first, and he started to notice details and conversations again even though his body remained unresponsive.

The man has since found love with his wife, with the pair welcoming a son into the world Supplied

'Complete and utter powerlessness'

"I remember around my 16th birthday people talking about the stubble on my chin and wondering whether to shave me," he admitted.

"It scared and confused me to listen to what was being said because, although I had no memories or sense of a past, I was sure I was a child and the voices were speaking about a soon-to-be man."

"I was able to hear, see, and understand everything around me, but I had absolutely no power or control over anything."

Despite being fully aware, he could not signal to anyone that he was back. The gap between his alert mind and immobile body became the hardest part to endure.

"For me, that feeling of complete and utter powerlessness is probably the worst feeling I have ever experienced, and I hope I never have to experience again."

Yet those around him still believed he was unconscious and assumed he remained in a coma. He listened helplessly as life moved forward without him.

Everything changed in 2001 at his day center, when he met therapist Virna van der Walt — a turning point that opened a path back to communication.

Pistorius has credited therapist Virna van der Walt for noticing the 'sparkle' in his eye again martinpistorius/Instagram

Van der Walt noticed what she described as a “sparkle” in his eye and suspected his mind was active. She chose to trust that sign and push for further evaluation.

She encouraged his parents to take him to the Centre for Augmentative and Alternative Communication (CAAC) at the University of Pretoria. There, specialists confirmed he was aware and processing the world around him.

His care team then obtained a computer with communication software. Using a headband to select letters, words, and symbols, Pistorius found his voice again and began rebuilding his life one message at a time.

Two decades on, Pistorius has made extraordinary progress. He earned a first-class honors degree in computer science, learned to drive, and built a family with his wife, Joanna — milestones that once seemed impossible.

Updating followers on Instagram at age 50, Martin wrote: "I am intensely grateful to the people who have passed through my life, and those who remain part of it, especially my wife. For without them and the grace of God, none of this would have been possible."