A 14-year-old boy from a village near Westbury who has been raising money for the Wiltshire Air Ambulance needed the help of the helicopter himself after being injured during a football match.

Chris Hillman, from High Street, Dilton Marsh, was airlifted to the Royal United Hospital in Bath after suffering concussion, whiplash and damaged nerves and muscles in his neck during a training session with his football club Dilton Rovers on May 19.

Chris, who has played for the club for six years, has so far raised more than £400 for the Wiltshire Air Ambulance Appeal after the helicopter took his nan, Lillian Sims, to the RUH when she collapsed at Watersmead Nursing Home in Westbury in July 2007. Sadly the 88-year-old later died in hospital of heart failure.

His uncle Steve Hillman, 48, of Summerdown Walk, Trowbridge, also needed the help of the air ambulance crew, who resuscitated him twice after he suffered a heart attack on November 30.

The Matravers School pupil raised the money by cycling from Bradford on Avon to Bath in an hour-and-a-half and his dad Jeff, 41, completed the motocross Western Beach Race.

Chris said: “I was upset about my nan dying but thankful to the air ambulance for trying to save her so I thought I would do something in return for them.”

Describing his accident on Dilton Marsh playing fields, Chris said: “I was defending and they had a free kick.

“I headed the ball out and it went to one their players so I went to tackle him but someone ran into the back of me and I fell forward and hit my head on the person in front. Then I fell down and the two players were both unbalanced and fell on my neck.”

Westbury First Responders were first on the scene, followed by a land ambulance. Paramedics put Chris in a neck brace and onto a spinal board.

“Then I started to feel pins and needles in my legs so they cut off my football boots, which I was a bit mad about,” he said.

“The paramedic then said to me, ‘we’ve got a big treat for you. You’re going for a helicopter ride’.” Chris added.

Chris’s mum Carolyn Hillman, 52, said: “All the help he received was smashing. The air ambulance actually sent Chris a card to say he could visit them and get a photo with the helicopter.

Chris, who went back to school on Monday after the half-term break, added: “My uncle wants to come as well so he can thank them for saving him.”

The family are planning to raise more money for the appeal during this year.