A YORK man is preparing to run through fire, ice and mud to thank helicopter heroes for saving his father’s life.

Guy Kilner’s father Michael, 66, from Wheldrake, suffered a major head injury when he fell off a ladder onto a concrete floor in York last year.

He was stabilised at the scene by Yorkshire Air Ambulance medics and flown to Leeds General Infirmary.

During a five-hour operation, neurosurgeons had to cut away part of the left side of his brain to release mounting pressure and swelling.

He was in hospital in Leeds and York for 10 weeks before transferring to a Neurorehabilitation Centre for a further 12.

Now Guy, a director at Energi Trampoline Park in York and three other staff members are planning to tackle the Dirty Heroes Obstacle Race at Duncombe Park, Helmsley, next month.

The gruelling 10-mile course has more than 30 obstacles, including ice pits, electric shocks, scaling walls, strength tests, squeezing through tunnels and lots of mud.

The accident happened at Energi in May last year, just three days after it opened, when Michael, an experienced cleaning contractor, was working for his son on site.

Guy said quick decision-making by the air ambulance doctor and paramedics made the difference. “He was anaesthetised at the scene and flown to Leeds in 10 minutes and quite simply my dad would not have survived without them. I cannot thank them enough.”

Michael has no recollection of the accident but knows just how lucky he was to survive it. He had a titanium plate fitted in his head last December and is still recovering.

“I’ve always wanted to fly in a helicopter but not in these circumstances,” he said.“I don’t remember the journey but know I’ve been very lucky. If I had not got to hospital so quickly I would not have made it.

“I still get very tired and my short-term memory is not great, but I’m getting there and I’ve had great support from my family and friends.”

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