A grateful son pulled on his running shoes to help raise funds for the medical team which saved his dad’s life.

As Father’s Day approaches, Jordan Langridge has thanked the Kent Air Ambulance as without them, he wouldn’t “have a man to call dad”.

David Langridge, from Strood, was left fighting for his life after a crash on the M20 in January 2012. His car was hit by a lorry which sent his careering into the safety barrier.

It took firefighters around 90 minutes to cut him out and in that time he had lost a dangerous amount of blood.

But a medical team from the air ambulance was able to give him a life-saving blood transfusion and he was airlifted to King’s College Hospital in London.

David had suffered a shattered pelvis, hip and collar bone, as well as multiple breaks in his arm and leg.

"It is down to them that I still have a man I can call dad.”

Jordan said: “The first phone call I got said my dad hadn’t made it.

“I am so grateful to the air ambulance who were able to give him the blood transfusion and get him to hospital so quickly.

"They kept him alive. It is down to them that I still have a man I can call dad.”

David spent three months in hospital and is now virtually confined to a wheelchair.

The 51-year-old can stand on crutches but will never be able to walk on his own. The former painter and decorator is having ongoing physiotherapy and will be on medication for the rest of his life.

Jordan took part in the KM Colour Run on Sunday and chose to raise money the Kent, Surrey and Sussex Air Ambulance. Together with his girlfriend, Megan Hand, they raised almost £500.

Now Jordan has signed up to do a skydive this September, paid for by Megan, and hopes to raise another £1,000 for the charity.

The 22-year-old from Cliffe said: “Dad is really chuffed to bits I’m fundraising. I didn’t realise before that the air ambulance relies 100% on donations. They are true heroes who save people’s lives.”

Jordan sees his dad almost every day and the pair love watching football together, despite supporting opposing teams – he supports Manchester United while David is a Chelsea fan.

Jordan said: “My dad has dealt so well with everything since the accident. He is great. He is such an easy person to get on with him.

“I don’t know anyone who doesn’t get on with him. He is always the life and soul of the party and people love him.

“My dad is my king. I will never take him for granted.”