The first anniversary of the Surrey Air Ambulance coming into operation was celebrated with an open day at its headquarters in Dunsfold Park.

The new helicopter medical service is now flying fast, direct and unhindered, at more than 150mph and can reach anywhere in Surrey or Sussex in a matter of minutes.

Its crew of highly trained doctors and critical care paramedics can perform life-saving surgery at the scene thanks to the miniature operating theatre on board.

Grateful Odiham resident Rob Horne, 18, owes his life both to the key operating skills of the team and their speedy response when he crashed his car into a tree on the A323 last October. He suffered extensive injuries in the accident, which left him in a life-threatening condition.

Rob is now making a full recovery, largely due to the rapid arrival of the Surrey Air Ambulance crew and the vital medical attention he received.

“We know that without  Surrey Air Ambulance we would have lost Rob,” said his father, Graeme. “Before his accident we were completely unaware the air ambulance was funded purely by donations.

"We owe everything to the doctor and HEMS paramedic on board that day for operating on Rob at the scene to enable him to survive.”

Both father and son were delighted to be able to give something back to the service when they handed over a cheque for £19,450 to the crew at Dunsfold Park.

Rob’s father raised £13,500 through his work at an in-house auction — the Mix Do, hosted by Mix Interiors magazine — and the family swelled the total through other donations.

Robert sustained severe head and chest injuries and had to be airlifted to the trauma unit at the Royal London Hospital in Whitechapel, where he was on life support for a fortnight.

Paramedics did not think he would survive but Robert pulled through and has made an amazing recovery.

Robert, who lives in Fleet, held a press conference at RAF Odiham to thank the firefighters, doctors and paramedics who brought him back from the brink of death.

He also wanted to warn other young drivers to be aware of their inexperience and vulnerability on the roads.

The crash happened in Aldershot Road near the Norris Hill Road roundabout in Fleet.

Robert had been taking two friends, Claire King, 18, of Church Crookham, and Suzie Noakes, 18, of Fleet, on a shopping trip.

Robert was driving at 50mph in a 60mph zone when his Peugeot 306 started to skid as he took a corner. He struggled to bring the car under control and hit the kerb, causing the car to flip four times before hitting trees.

By the time the paramedics arrived it was clear that Robert was in a critical condition.

Surrey Air Ambulance paramedic Neil Painter said after the crash: “When I first got there I didn’t think he was going to survive. He was already fitting due to his head injury and struggling to breathe.

“We had to anaesthetise him on site and perform a thoracostomy, which meant drilling holes in his chest and pushing my fingers into his chest cavity to ease the pressure on his lungs.”

Robert had to be resuscitated three times as paramedics and doctors struggled to save him.

Surrey Air Ambulance fundraiser Julie Jenkinson said: “Rob and his family have become true ambassadors for our charity.

"Surrey Air Ambulance does not receive funding from the government or lottery and is supported entirely by public donations.”

People at the open day met crew members as well as representatives from the fire service, ambulance service, Highways Agency and Surrey Police.

For details call 01622 833833 or visit www.surreyairambulance.co.uk.