A TEENAGER from Alveston has thanked emergency rescuers who came to his aid after a motorbike accident.

Stuart Southcott, 18, was travelling along the A38 near Almondsbury last Wednesday when he came off his motorbike.

A crew from the new Great Western Air Ambulance, based at Filton, was immediately sent to the scene where they helped treat Stuart who had broken the femur in his leg and dislocated an ankle during the accident.

The air ambulance crew gave Stuart a drug to sedate him, ease the pain and allow them to reset his ankle.

Stuart said: "The air ambulance was on the scene very quickly after my accident and the crew were very reassuring.

"I flew across the road after the impact. I was in a bad way and am lucky to be alive.

"The air ambulance will help save lives and give others like myself the best possible chance of making a recovery. If it hadn't come, I don't know what would have happened."

Danny Hopkins, GWAS Service Delivery Manager of Air Operations and a critical care paramedic who attended the scene along with doctors from the unit, said: "When we arrived he had no pulse in his foot. It was a limb-threatening incident."

Stuart was eventually taken to Frenchay Hospital in Bristol where his leg was operated on and pinned.

The teenager is now back at his home in Alveston after three days in hospital, but faces a fight to walk again and will be wheelchair-bound for at least four months. He will be having regular physiotherapy as part of his rehabilitation.

He said: "I will be following the medical advice and building up my strength. I will be doing everything to walk again and, hopefully, get on a motorbike."

The Great Western Air Ambulance was launched just 10 days ago and has already attended 15 incidents.

The helicopter is operated in partnership between Great Western Ambulance Service, the Great Western Air Ambulance Charity and the Melvyn's Trust.

Paul Weir, chief executive of Great Western Air Ambulance Charity, said: "Stuart's accident highlights the importance of the new air ambulance, enabling a skilled team of doctor and paramedic to get directly to the incident without delay.

"It also emphasisies why this service is needed and the vital need for support from the public for the funding so necessary to keep the aircraft flying."

The public is still being encouraged to pledge their support to help run the new air ambulance, which will cost £1.3 million a year to operate.

The Great Western Air Ambulance Charity is handling donations and a new charity, the Melvyn's Trust, is being established to raise funds from its recycling scheme in support of the air ambulance.

Donations should be made payable to Great Western Air Ambulance Charity. Cheques and postal orders should be sent to: Great Western Air Ambulance, Air Operations Office, Bristol Filton Airport, Filton, Bristol, BS99 7AR.