‘Helicoptor crash pilot saved my life’

The GP2 racer sustained life threatening injuries in a quadbike accident in woodland near his Southwater home in 2007, and it was the expertise of air ambulance captain Barnes which proved critical in his recovery from broken ribs, losing a kidney and liver damage.

Capt Barnes died last Wednesday (January 16) when his helicoptor, which was bound for Elstree from Redhill Aerodrome, struck a crane on The Tower, St George Wharf, in Vauxhall, where a pedestrian on the ground also died.

After Jolyon’s accidentsix years ago in Southwater, he could not be reached by a road ambulance, so an air ambulance piloted by capt Barnes was called to help.

Jolyon said: “My condition was more serious than first thought, there were a number of people that helped me, but I was lucky that Pete was able to land near to me so I could be taken to hospital quickly.

“It was very saddening to hear of what happened, he was someone who played a major role in my life and I am sure he played a major role in a lot of people’s lives.

“The whole event was very tragic.”