SOPHIE Kelly believes she is alive today thanks to the air medics who treated her at the scene of an horrific head-on road crash.

Now the 22-year-old is saying thanks to the air ambulance crew who saved her life after the three-car collision near Keswick by taking part in a series of fundraising challenges which have so far clocked up £800.

Sophie, from Frizington, was travelling in a car with her father Kenneth Kelly and her then partner Scott Musgrave on the A66 at Threlkeld on December 27, 2011 when the accident happened.

Another vehicle pulled out of the junction in front of them, causing driver Mr Kelly to swerve onto the opposite side of the road and hit an oncoming car.

The Great North Air Ambulance Service (GNAAS) was in attendance with two of its helicopters, the Pride of Cumbria and the Guardian of the North.

Scott, 18 at the time, was airlifted to Newcastle’s Royal Victoria Infirmary with abdominal injuries.

Sophie and her father were taken by road ambulance to the Cumberland Infirmary in Carlisle and the West Cumberland Hospital in Whitehaven respectively.

Sophie said: “I tore my liver and spleen. Scott tore his spleen and had a hole in his bowel and my dad fractured his right hip, broke his right ankle, sprained his left ankle and damaged a tendon.

“Without the charity I don’t believe we would have survived so I thank them with every inch of me for saving our lives.”

Sophie’s determination for fundraising came after she and Mr Musgrave went on to make recoveries. Mr Kelly, whose recovery was far slower, died on November 12 last year.

As part of her fundraising drive, Sophie completed the Great North Swim in Windermere, took on a 10k in Manchester, gave up alcohol for a month and held bake sales.

She plans to raise more money in Kenneth’s memory this year.

Sophie said: “In a speech at my dad’s funeral, I spoke about how he reminded me of Santa because he was never selfish. He was a loved family man with a funny character.”

Mandy Drake, head of fundraising at GNAAS, said: “We want to say a huge thank you to Sophie for her committed fundraising efforts over the course of many months. It is hugely appreciated and will make a difference to the lives of our future patients.”