The mother of the 19-year-old student seriously injured in a head-on-collision near Bromham last Friday has praised the emergency responders who saved his life.

Luke Dark, of Craybourne Road, Melksham, was involved in the accident on the A3102 Sandridge Hill shortly before 8am, when his blue Vauxhall Corsa collided with a yellow pick-up truck.

The agricultural student sustained severe head and pelvic injuries in the crash and had to be cut free from his car by firefighters using specialist hydraulic cutting gear.

He was then airlifted to Frenchay Hospital by the Wiltshire Air Ambulance.

His mother, Melksham Carnival secretary Beth Dark, said: “The Air Ambulance crew was absolutely fantastic. I have messaged them to thank them and all the emergency services for what they’ve done, and they’ve all sent their best wishes on to Luke.

“There is no way anybody can understand how brilliant they are, and it just blows me away what they can do.”

Luke remains in intensive care, where he has undergone an extensive eight-hour operation to reconstruct his knee and wrist.

He has also been treated for internal bleeding and bruised lungs, and has been kept on a ventilator.

Miss Dark said: “He’s up and down at the moment. He’s in a critical condition, but at least he’s stable. We just need little baby steps at the moment.

“He has had so many visitors it’s unbelievable, his sister has been in all day chewing his ear off, and we’ve had so much support from people in the town. Now we just have to remain positive.”

Initial police reports suggest the Corsa may have crossed the central white line on the road, where it collided with the truck heading in the opposite direction. The truck driver was not seriously injured.

The road remained closed until 2pm while police investigated the scene.

Any witnesses to the crash are asked to contact Wiltshire Police on 101.