Malcolm Myatt: The man who can never be sad (Picture: Caters)

A 63-year-old man has been left in a permanent state of happiness after a stroke left him unable to feel sadness.

Malcolm Myatt, from Cannock, Staffordshire, damaged his brain’s emotion control area when he suffered the stroke and now finds himself erupting into fits of laughter for no reason at all.

‘I’ve always been a happy person and loved telling jokes, but now I don’t ever feel sad,’ he said.

‘I remember that I used to be able to feel sad, if something bad happened – but it just doesn’t happen any more.


‘I would definitely rather be happy all the time than the other way round.’



Mr Myatt was struck down with the stroke in 2004 and spent 19 weeks in hospital. He was left with no function in his left arm and can only walk short distances with aid of a walking stick.

His family say his spontaneous laughter is now infectious but it has left them on tenterhooks at sombre events such as funerals, wondering whether the 63-year-old may inadvertently lighten the mood.