A BURBAGE pensioner has been saying thank you in person to the firefighters and paramedics who saved his life after he was involved in a car crash in Pewsey.

Bill Mather, of West Court, spent eight weeks in hospital recovering from a severe head injury after his Smart car collided with a Land Rover Defender and a Volkswagen Transporter in Wilton Road on November 12.

Firefighters from Pewsey and Marlborough managed to free the 72-year-old from the wreckage, using hydraulic rescue equipment, before handing him over to South West Ambulance paramedics.

They had to inflate his lungs and give him a blood transfusion as he was losing a lot of blood.

Ever since Mr Mather left hospital last month, he has been trying to thank every single person in person for what they did to keep him alive.

“Each and every one of them deserve medals. I am forever indebted to them. They saved my life and for that I am eternally grateful,” said Mr Mather, who is now on crutches and sees a physio twice a week.

“Unfortunately I do not remember a single thing from that day. My wife Felicity drove me to where the accident happened a couple of weeks ago as I was hoping to get a flashback or an impression of what happened but I cannot recall anything.

“I was told I was so badly trapped that my chest was crushed so they had to inflate my lungs so I could breathe – I was losing so much blood.

“I was in Bristol’s Southmead Hospital, where I was sedated for two and a half weeks afterwards in their brain department, stitching my head back together.

“Although I had the most boring Christmas and New Year ever, as I was in hospital, I am on the mend and am learning to walk again. My wife has been so helpful.

“I want to apologise profusely for this. I have no idea why I was trying to overtake on the road and I am so sorry for the trouble I caused, and I hope they are ok.”

The driver of the Transporter was not injured but the Land Rover driver, Andrew Martin, from Pewsey, sustained arm and chest injuries. He was discharged from Great Western Hospital within a week.

Pewsey crew manager Martin Lay said: “When we arrived that morning, Mr Mather was pinned down in his car and he had a large cut on his head.

“When I approached his car he was completely incoherent and in a lot of pain. He seemed to look straight through me when I tried talking to him.

“I am delighted to hear he is on the mend. We thank him for his kind words and we all wish him a full recovery.”

Paramedic Scott Thompson, who was driving the ambulance on the day, said: “He was so grateful for what our team did. The team did a good job as it was a nasty accident.

“We are very happy that he is looking well.”