A KEEN tennis player who had his life saved by the air ambulance has thanked the crew which helped him.

Roger Steel, of Bures, suffered a cardiac arrest whilst playing at The Essex Golf and Country Club in Earls Colne.

Paramedics from Essex Air Ambulance, based in Earls Colne, was able to get to the scene first, using one of the charity’s rapid response cars.

Roger was stabilised at the scene by pre-hospital care doctor Naomi Pritchard and critical care paramedic Simon Probert.

Roger was driven to the charity’s airbase and then airlifted by pilot Mark Holmes to Basildon Hospital.

Last week, just a few months after his ordeal, Roger walked into the Earls Colne Visitor Centre in good health to personally thank the crew.

Simon Probert said: “The ability to bring a hospital’s critical care unit to the scene is what makes the Air Ambulance service so special and meant we were able to start Roger’s treatment at the scene.

“Roger’s incident was certainly a first for us, we have never airlifted someone from the Earls Colne helipad itself.”

Roger added: “It’s been great meeting Simon and the others today – a real pleasure.

“We really couldn’t believe it when we found out that Essex Air Ambulance is a charity.

“This year, my wife and I decided not to accept birthday presents and instead we asked for money to donate to this life-saving charity.”

Roger has made a full recovery and is now back playing tennis at the country club.

Along with his wife Lin, Roger has been actively collecting donations ever since the incident.