The Lawyer Who Cheated Death Three Times
At 2am in an Essex hospital, with a priest administering last rites after his third cardiac arrest, Brian Hughes appeared to have reached the end. Yet against all medical expectations, the 90-year-old lawyer not only survived that traumatic night but continues to practice law today, believed to be the United Kingdom's oldest active solicitor.
A Night That Changed Everything
Brian Hughes's remarkable story began in 2007 during what should have been a routine swim at his local pool. The Essex-based solicitor suddenly lost consciousness and was pulled from the bottom of the swimming pool, having suffered a catastrophic brain haemorrhage. Rushed to hospital, CT scans revealed his brain was filled with blood, with surgeons giving him just a "1 in 10,000 chance of survival."
"Throughout that night in hospital, I had to be resuscitated three times," Brian recalls. "After the third resuscitation, doctors told my wife there was no sign of brain activity. They warned that if they managed to bring me back, I would most likely remain in a vegetative state."
His wife made the courageous decision to authorize further resuscitation attempts. "My heart stopped for the third time at 2am," Brian explains, "and with great difficulty, they managed to bring me back. The medical team told my wife, 'Right, that's it. We reckon your husband will pass away peacefully within the next two hours.'"
The Miraculous Recovery
Against all predictions, Brian Hughes awoke at 6:30am that morning. "I opened my eyes, groaned, and my eldest son immediately said, 'Get the doctors back,'" he remembers. What followed was intricate surgery to clear the blood from his brain and repair the burst artery that had caused the haemorrhage.
That "1 in 10,000" survival statistic has become Brian's personal motivation. Now at 90, having defied medical expectations, he continues his legal practice with undiminished enthusiasm. "That is the reason, to this day, why I'm still going," he states matter-of-factly.
Six Decades of Legal Service
Brian Hughes became a qualified solicitor in 1965, marking over six decades of legal practice. Before focusing exclusively on law, he ran a travel business organizing educational trips for students to Italy, Greece, and Turkey. However, his legal practice eventually began to "blossom" into his primary vocation.
He founded Rainer Hughes, his Essex and London law firm, where he remains a practicing solicitor today. His caseload has been remarkably diverse, spanning:
- Criminal defense work
- Divorce proceedings
- Boundary disputes
- Business sales and acquisitions
One case he remembers particularly fondly involved thieves who broke into nine travel agents across Essex, stealing thousands of travel tickets. Brian worked alongside police and a specialized ticket fraud squad to track down the stolen documents, demonstrating his commitment to justice beyond the courtroom.
More Than Just a Lawyer
Brian Hughes's motivation extends far beyond legal technicalities. "I'm interested in the community," he explains. "I'm interested in people, and I like to make sure they get a fair deal. I have an MBE which I received for outstanding service to the community. So I'm not just a lawyer. I love being somebody who helps."
This community focus manifests in multiple ways:
- Mentoring trainee solicitors entering the profession
- Helping clients navigate away from dishonest legal practitioners
- Acting as a mediator in family disputes
- Contributing to District Law Societies and the Law Society itself
"The most rewarding part about being a lawyer is I'm still using my brain," Brian reflects. "I'm keeping my brain fresh, and that's the most useful thing from my point of view. It keeps me mentally active. I see so many people who retire and just go downhill."
No Plans to Slow Down
Brian Hughes has authored two books—Here Comes Trouble and A Law Unto Myself—and is currently writing a third while maintaining an active caseload. His definition of "slowing down" involves reducing his workweek from five days to three, rather than considering full retirement.
"I feel incredibly lucky to have reached this milestone," he says. "I cannot think of many of my original contemporaries who have lived as long as myself, and I know of none who have wanted to continue working beyond 70 years of age. My work has always been a source of great satisfaction to me, and I have never felt that I wanted to retire from it."
Looking back on his near-fatal experience, Brian concludes: "[After being told I should be dead] that is my motivation to keep going. As long as I have the energy and drive, I'll carry on." His story stands as a testament to resilience, professional dedication, and the human capacity to overcome even the most dire medical prognoses.
