motorcyclist Dylan Jones, who suffered life-threatening injuries in August last year, has gone on to run a half-marathon and raise well over £17,000 for two life-saving charities.

Dylan, 20, from Lechlade, was riding his motorcycle home one evening when he had a collision with another vehicle.

Wiltshire Air Ambulance received a call about the incident and because Dylan’s injuries were so severe, the helicopter and crew attended the incident, along with the Wiltshire-based pre-hospital emergency care charity, SWIFT Medics.

They arrived in just 12 minutes and treated Dylan at the scene for over an hour.

He suffered extensive traumatic injuries, including a broken neck, internal bleeding, a broken arm, broken ankle and a completely severed trachea and oesophagus. After paramedics stabilised his condition, the air ambulance flew Dylan to Oxford’s John Radcliffe Hospital where he underwent a 12-hour operation. Dylan had two more operations during his two-month stay in hospital Still recovering from his injuries, Dylan and his father, sisters Harriet and Jessica, and friends, decided to run this year’s Oxford Half-Marathon.

On October 13, 72 runners put their best foot forward to raise money for the two charities that helped to save Dylan’s life.

“Dylan suffered catastrophic life-threatening injuries. Without the care and treatment of the air ambulance crew and the speed of the helicopter that night, my son would not be alive,” said Dylan’s dad Chris.

“This is why we work tirelessly to support this vital, life-saving service. If we didn’t have Wiltshire Air Ambulance, our family would not have Dylan here today.

“We would like to say a huge thank you to all our friends and family, who have so generously supported our fundraising.”

Fundraising has been very much a family affair, with Dylan, Harriet and his twin Jessica raising an extra £828 with a party night, and a close family friend raising a further £500 from a tack sale.

Martin Mulligan, sales director at Quantel Communication, sponsored the marathon team’s running vests.

On Sunday, Dylan, his family and friends presented the air ambulance with a cheque for £8,817.83 and SWIFT Medics with a cheque for £8,471.65.

Claire Kelly, head of charity services for Wiltshire Air Ambulance, said: “We’re extremely grateful for this donation. It costs £6,850 a day to keep the air ambulance flying, so it will make a very real difference to our life-saving work.

“Dylan suffered traumatic injuries and it’s a tough road for him as he works hard to conquer these injuries. Dylan, his father, Harriet and Jessica are an inspiration and we cannot thank them enough for their fantastic support.”

Dr Jonathan Glover, of SWIFT Medics, said: “SWIFT Medics, Wiltshire’s emergency response doctors’ charity, would like to thank the runners who took part in Dylan’s Challenge at the Oxford Half-Marathon. The donation will keep three of our volunteer doctors on the road this coming year.”

If you want to fundraise for the air ambulance, emailclaire@wiltshireairambulance.co.uk or visit www.wiltshireairambulance.co.uk