Aberystwyth student loses ability to speak Welsh after crash

Ellis Pears, a 19-year-old Aberystwyth law student, was concussed in a November 2024 car crash and said he lost the ability to speak Welsh days later; by June 2025 his Welsh and mood had largely improved.

A 19-year-old law student at Aberystwyth University said a car crash in November 2024 left him concussed and that, a few days later, he could not use his native Welsh as he had before. The difficulty with language coincided with episodes of low mood, flashbacks and brain fog that affected his ability to attend lectures and take part in Welsh-medium parts of his course. He went to hospital after the crash and underwent scans and tests. By June 2025 he reported significant improvement in both his language and his wellbeing. Key details: - The crash occurred in November 2024 and resulted in a concussion that the student links to his language difficulties. - He is a law student at Aberystwyth University and had attended Welsh-medium schools in childhood. - After the incident he was assessed at Bronglais Hospital and had CT and MRI scans and other tests. - The student experienced anxiety, flashbacks and missed lectures, but by June 2025 said his Welsh had returned to normal and symptoms had reduced. Summary: The incident disrupted the student’s studies and caused temporary language loss and emotional symptoms, with reported improvement by mid-2025. Undetermined at this time.