CRASH victim Alan Dore has thanked the coach driver who came to his aid and helped save his life.

Alan, 26, was driving his Mitsubishi Warrior on the outskirts of Cirencester on January 6 when a 44-ton lorry hit his pick-up truck at the Cherry Tree Lane junction of the A417.

Martyn Bennett was driving a coach behind the collision and rushed to Alan's truck, finding him close to death.

The 52-year-old Alexcars driver, a trained community first responder, said: “I just ran across and he was going a funny colour and choking on his tongue. His head was right down so I stabilised his head, got some glass out of his face and stayed with him until the ambulance arrived."

The Carterton resident added: “I’m sure that if he was in a smaller car then he would have been dead. And if nobody was there who knew what to do it could have been a different story.”

Alan was trapped in the car for more than an hour and Wiltshire Air Ambulance, operating in their new helicopter for the first time, was called out.

Ross Culligan, one of the critical care paramedics who treated Alan, said: “His vehicle had crumpled around him following the impact. He was suffering a suspected head injury, arm and leg injuries and we gave him pain relief.

“We had to make sure that anything we and the other emergency services did didn't exacerbate his pain and injuries. He was cut out of his vehicle and we treated him for potential spinal injuries.”

Miraculously, Alan escaped with bruises but no broken bones and no spinal injuries.

The Ampney Crucis resident thanked both Martyn and the air ambulance crew for coming to his aid.

He said: “It was quite an experience and I'm very thankful.

“I’ve been to the air ambulance base since to say thanks and to take a look at the new helicopter.”

Alan said that he believed his Mitsubishi Warrior helped to save his life as the vehicle cocooned him from the full force of the impact.

“I’d recommend one of them for that reason,” he said.

The collision left debris from both the truck and lorry strewn across the highway, prompting police to close the road.

For more news from the Cotswolds and traffic updates, see wiltsglosstandard.co.uk