A Hemingford Grey man was among a group of people who last week were given the opportunity to say ‘thank you’ to the MAGPAS doctor who helped to save them.

Paul Woodgate, aged 64, of Weir Close, met up with Dr Simon Lewis on August 11, the first time the pair have seen each other since Mr Woodgate was injured in a motorbike accident on the A14 in February, 2012.

Mr Woodgate was riding home from work just after 5pm when his Suzuki 250 Bandit bike lost control on the frozen ground and he hit a crash barrier, sustaining serious injuries, including nine fractures, two collapsed lungs and a punctured spleen. Dr Lewis and Helimedix paramedic Simon Standen attending Mr Woodgate at the roadside.

The emotional reunion took place at the MAGPAS helipad at Wyton where Dr Lewis was also celebrating 15 years’ service with the emergency medical charity.

“This guy saved my life and I got the chance to say ‘thank you’,” said Mr Woodgate.

Mr Woodgate, a printer, spent 10 days in Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge, and made a full recovery, but said the accident changed his outlook on life.

“It changed my whole perspective, I stopped worrying about little things and things that didn’t really matter.”

Dr Lewis said it was “incredibly moving” to meet the people whose lives he had touched.

“It means so much knowing we have made a difference,” he said.

“MAGPAS is a huge part of my life. It’s because of the all the people involved; all the supporters, my clinical colleagues, the charity support staff and the endless positive energy and enthusiasm that drives us on.”

Dr Lewis started off as volunteer doctor at MAGPAS and later became clinical director of the Community First Responder Scheme; training members of the local community to treat patients going into cardiac arrest and is now medical director of MAGPAS.