I will watch Paul's death...at some point. The story is sometimes too painful

While millions of Coronation Street viewers will be tuning in next week to watch the heart-breaking death of Paul Foreman from motor neurone disease, Sam Hayden-Harler will not be among them."

- SUE CRAWFORD

With MND himself, Sam has followed the storyline and helped by visiting the Coronation Street set to meet the actors involved.

But he says Paul's final moments will be too difficult to watch and something he is not yet ready for yet.

Sam explains: "I do have to protect myself a little bit.

"Most of the time I have been watching, because it's very important and I don't want to shy away from it, but sometimes it's too painful.

"I know the inevitable is inevitable - every person with MND knows that's what's going to happen and I will watch Paul's death at some point. That probably won't be the day that it airs.

"It may take me some time to prepare myself and I will probably want to be alone.

"I know I will sit there bawling my eyes out but it's so good that Coronation Street has done this storyline because it does provoke that awkward conversation.

"I have never seen as much awareness as there is now about MND and that can only be a good thing for people like me.

A fit and healthy young man who had run the London Marathon twice, Sam was diagnosed with condition in March 2022, aged 35.

Initially putting pain and weakness in his wrist and hand down to repetitive strain injury, he eventually went to his doctor and after months of tests was given the devastating news.

MND is rare condition affecting the brain and nerves. It is fatal and usually progresses rapidly.