JASON Cook never thought he would need the services of Wiltshire Air Ambulance.

Mr Cook, a gas engineer, was covering a shift for a colleague who was attending a wedding when he was involved in a serious accident with a 20-tonne lorry.

The collision, at a crossroads in Grittleton, near Malmesbury, resulted in his van being pinned against a stone wall, crushing the entire side and front of it.

An ambulance paramedic called for Wiltshire Air Ambulance after he showed signs of possible life-threatening injuries.

Mr Cook was cut free from his van by firefighters and was transferred to the helicopter and flown to Frenchay Hospital, Bristol.

Mr Cook, 29, and who lives with his fiancée Adele Saunders in Covingham in Swindon, said: “The extremely quick response and flying time of Wiltshire Air Ambulance meant they made the difference between life and death.

“I suffered a shattered jaw, glass cuts and a few bruises. I was extremely lucky not to suffer brain damage, a fractured skull, internal bleeding, organ damage and broken legs.”

Following the accident, on March 3, 2012, Mr Cook spent four days in hospital and underwent two operations on his jaw. He recovered and was able to return to work five weeks later.

He now runs his own plumbing and heating company in Swindon. He said: “I am so thankful to Wiltshire Air Ambulance and the other emergency services who attended to me when I had my accident. I hold a special place in my heart for everyone who works for Wiltshire Air Ambulance, as the work they do is so amazing and ultimately life-changing.”

Mr Cook met the air ambulance crew who came to his aid and to give something back he plays the charity’s lottery and has signed up to Give As You Live, an online initiative where participating retailers give a donation to Wiltshire Air Ambulance.

He has also made a donation to Wiltshire Air Ambulance through his company, Valiant Gas Limited. To mark the anniversary of when he was airlifted he ran a promotion, donating £5 for every boiler he serviced.

He said: “Without funding, Wiltshire Air Ambulance would not be able to operate and they need all the help they can get. We can all help in our own way to keep Wiltshire Air Ambulance flying, after all I never imagined I would be needing their services.”