TWELVE years after a gas cylinder exploded in his face, an Oxfordshire man continues to support the air ambulance charity which he says helped save his eyesight.

On August 19, 2008, Kevin Soles, from Chipping Norton, was flown to hospital by the local air ambulance after the regulator on a gas cylinder exploded in his face.

The force of the pressure split his eye open and detached the retina.

His eye was full of blood and he couldn’t see.

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There were concerns that splinters could have entered his brain, which scans revealed later had fortunately not happened.

Mr Soles, 62, was working as a rally motorsport mechanic when the incident took place.

He credits the speed with which he got to hospital with saving his eyesight.

“The helicopter got me to hospital quickly and saved my sight,” he said.

“It was the smoothest way to travel. If I had gone in a land ambulance and there had been splinters in my brain they could have been dislodged by the vibrations of the vehicle – and that would’ve been very dangerous.”

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Mr Soles was working at Turweston Aerodrome near Brackley, Northamptonshire and was flown to hospital in Coventry in just 16 minutes.

There, he had an operation to reattach the retina and stitch his eye.

After just two days, he was discharged from hospital. After two months, he was well enough to return to work.

“When the accident happened I was very concerned that I might lose my eyesight,” he said.

“My eyes were strapped so I couldn’t see anything when I was in the helicopter but I knew I was in good hands and I was being taken to the right place.

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“When I left hospital, I could just see faint images but my sight gradually came back and I have 20/20 vision now.

“I am very lucky to have such good eyesight after such a serious accident.

“I still can’t believe how lucky I was that day to be on the receiving end of the excellent service of the crew of Warwickshire and Northamptonshire Air Ambulance.”

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Forever grateful to the charity for being there in his hour of need, Mr Soles regularly donates items to the Shipston-on-Stour shop in Warwickshire.

Last year, the usually clean-shaven Mr Soles grew a beard and raised £140 for the charity.

The Air Ambulance Service (TAAS) does not receive funding from Government or the National Lottery for its daily missions, and relies entirely on voluntary donations and support from communities and businesses.

Each rescue mission costs approximately £1,700.