We report on a 46-year-old patient in whom an intracranial dural arteriovenous (AV) fistula, supplied by a branch of the ascending pharyngeal artery, drained into spinal veins and produced rapidly progressive symptoms of myelopathy and brainstem dysfunction including respiratory insufficiency. Magnetic resonance imaging studies demonstrated brainstem oedema and dilated veins of the brainstem and spinal cord. Endovascular embolization of the fistula led to good neurological recovery, although the patient had been paraplegic for 24 h prior to embolization. This case demonstrates the MRI characteristics of an intracranial dural AV fistula with spinal drainage and illustrates the importance of early diagnosis and treatment. Even paraplegia may be reversible, if angiography is performed and the fistula treated before ischaemic and gliotic changes become irreversible.