Rescued man gives back to Devon Air Ambulance

Devon Air Ambulance said it was joining organisations from across the nation to celebrate Volunteers Week 2024

A man who was rescued by Devon Air Ambulance after being trapped under the wheel of his tractor has started volunteering for the charity.

Steve Knight said he suffered "extensive internal injuries" and was placed into an induced coma for about two months to help his body recover.

Mr Knight said he owes the charity his "life" after the incident in June 2022.

He was using the tractor to move tarmac from his drive to repair holes.

'Run over me'

He said: "The hand break did not work, so I put it against a bank, so it did not roll away.

"It rolled forward, I leapt up the tractor to turn the throttle off and it kind of run over me.

LISTEN: Steve Knight tells BBC Radio Devon why he now volunteers with the air ambulance

"I remember being pulled down between the tractor and the fence, but I don’t really remember feeling much pain. My right arm was pinned under the wheel of the tractor.

"I remember as I was going down, I thought 'is this how it all ends?'."

'Wouldn't be here'

He said a neighbouring farmer called 999 and Devon Air Ambulance was called to assist.

"I knew this was serious. Without them I wouldn't be here," Mr Knight said.

"I owe my life to the Devon Air Ambulance as well as all the NHS staff at Derriford Hospital, north Devon and south Molton."

Mr Knight explained he did not have "much money to donate" but has started volunteering for the charity.

Volunteers Week starts on 2 June and ends 9 June

He said he was "an avid photographer" and now takes high-quality images of stock donated to the charity's shops, so the items can be listed online.

Volunteering Manager, Vicky Thresher added they were grateful Mr Knight was keen to donate his time and were "thrilled to welcome him to the team".

The charity said it was celebrating Volunteers Week, which began on Monday, and thanked the "volunteers that make such a difference in their local communities".