A man who was lucky to escape with his life after a freak accident is raising money for the air ambulance that helped save him.

Richard Holliday, 52, of Towncroft, Dearham, was using a grinder on his garden wall when the power tool caught in ivy, jerked up and sliced into his left thigh.

After receiving emergency first aid from his son Bradley, 23, Mr Holliday was flown by the Great North Air Ambulance to the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle, where he underwent lifesaving surgery.

The quick response also helped saved his leg.

Now he is organising a charity event to raise cash for the service, which relies entirely on donations.

Recalling the accident, in May last year, Mr Holliday said: “There was blood everywhere. I knew it was bad.

“My surgeon told me I had been so close to losing my life that it was a miracle I had survived.”

Medics discovered that the grinder had been just a millimetre from cutting through a main artery. If that had happened, Mr Holliday would have bled to death before help could arrive.

Mr Holliday, who works for McKay Skips, said the air ambulance crew originally expected to fly him to the West Cumberland Hospital in Whitehaven but decided it was more serious and he should go to Newcastle.

He said: “Their decision to send me straight to Newcastle saved my life. I am grateful to everyone involved, but decided to raise money for the Great North Air Ambulance.”

He will hold a race night for the charity, organised by Shaun Carlton, at Henry’s Bar in Workington on July 22 from 7pm. Tickets are £7.50 and are available from Mr Holliday, or for more details, visit his Facebook page here .

Mr Holliday has also set up an online fundraising page.

He said he also owed a debt of gratitude to his wife Sharon, who phoned 999, and Bradley, whose efforts to stem the bleeding helped save his leg and his life.

Mr Holliday said: “He was outstanding. He kept so calm. In fact, he was so calm that when the paramedics arrived he offered them a cup of tea. They suggested that they might take a look at me first.”

He is also grateful to his neighbour Brian Smithson and his son Christian, who completed his DIY project while he was in hospital.

Mr Holliday said: “I enjoy DIY and am building a summer house at the moment but the family keep telling me to stay away from power tools.”

He still has numbness in his leg but said it was a small price to pay for his life.

The race night has been sponsored by McKay Skips, Joe Elliot Plant Hire, Sam Quinn, Ken Epson, Focus at Sellafield, Michael Burgess, Leo Gartland and Auto Repairs of Gosforth.

To donate online visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/ richard-holliday2