David Russo, 28

David Russo, 28, and his wife Jo Russo, 26, were expecting their first child in less than 9 weeks when his accident happened. Most of what happened to David has been relayed to him by his wife, air ambulance crew and police services that were at the scene. 

"I was driving along the A508 just outside Milton Keynes which I think was taking me to my last meeting of the day. The weather conditions on that day were horrendous. I lost control of the car (which I had only had for 4 weeks) skidded over to the other side of the carriageway and collided on the passenger side with an oncoming vehicle before ending up against the barrier.

"Apparently I was immediately knocked unconscious. The driver of the other car managed to call 999. When the Air Ambulance arrived, they immediately put me into a medically induced coma as my heart was racing and putting me close to a heart attack. Whilst in the air craft, they continued to do as much as they could to keep me alive.

"I was airlifted to Coventry Walsgrave Hospital where I immediately went into the critical care unit. I spent, on and off, just under 3 weeks in the coma before they brought me out totally.

"One of the early bits of information I was given was that life would never be the same again. I was told that I may never get back to the same level of intelligence that I was at before the accident. Things I used to take for granted like decorating or working may also be a lot harder. At first I thought to myself "I'll be fine. What do they know?" Yes I am fine and yes I am also having the most amazing life but things are tougher than what they used to be.  My intelligence is not at the same level it once was. I am working on many tasks to try and improve this but it is a steady process.

"Thanks to the air ambulance originally and then the amazing therapy I received, I was able to go home on Christmas Eve. I woke up for the first time in 2 months in my own bed on Christmas morning. On the 30th December, George Salvatore Russo was born. I was still in hospital but just about fit enough to be at the birth. I was eventually released from hospital on the 4th January 2010 to be at home with my new family.

"I went to meet the crew that saved me with my son and was proud and a little bit in awe. It was weird meeting the people who had given me the chance to meet my son. The expertise and capabilities of the crew and the helicopter itself gave me a second chance.

"If it wasn't for the air ambulance I wouldn't be here and wouldn't have met my son. I would have left my wonderful wife a widow and single mother when she was just 26."