A firefighter whose head and face were shattered in a motorcycle accident says he owes his life to the air ambulance team who saved him. David Goode, 35, suffered massive head and facial injuries when he came off his motocross bike in September, despite the fact that he was wearing his helmet.

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A firefighter whose head and face were shattered in a motorcycle accident says he owes his life to the air ambulance team who saved him.

David Goode, 35, suffered massive head and facial injuries when he came off his motocross bike in September, despite the fact that he was wearing his helmet.

He has paid tribute to the medics who treated him at the scene, battling to stem the flow of blood from his mouth.

He underwent six hours of surgery and spent several days in intensive care in a Coventry hospital where his tongue was stitched back together, metal plates inserted in his head and arches into his mouth to rebuild his jaw.

Now, he is fit enough to join colleagues from Wellingborough on a sponsored bike ride to five fire stations on Saturday.

Mr Goode, of Windsor Road, Wellingborough, met the Warwickshire and Northamptonshire Air Ambulance team yesterday to thank them.

Mr Goode, who has no memory of the accident in Market Harborough on September 12, said: "I want to thank the air ambulance for what they did as they most probably saved my life and without their help, my wife might have been without a husband and my son without a father.

"The team said that their biggest struggle was getting rid of the blood coming from my mouth. My tongue had swollen up and they had to keep my airway clear.

"Their intervention and the speed they got me to hospital was essential because of my head injury."

The team of at least five firefighters are cycling just over 50 miles between Corby, Kettering, Wellingborough, Moulton, Mounts and Mereway fire stations.

Mr Goode, who will complete as much of the journey as he can, said he was touched by his colleagues' efforts.

Wellingborough watch manager Mick Titcombe said: "We wanted to do something to fundraise for the air ambulance as a thank you."