A grandad who had a cardiac arrest and was thrown off his bike has stressed the importance of wearing a helmet, which he says saved his life.

Paul Maycock was riding through his home village of West Kingsdown in April 2020 when he collapsed and crashed on the A20.

The now 65-year-old said: "I had just turned onto the main road and well, that was the last thing I can remember.

"I later learnt that I had had a cardiac arrest and crashed my bike. I was dying, and my fight for survival had begun.

"The car behind me stopped and the passengers immediately called the emergency services.

"A Kent, Surrey and Sussex Air Ambulance (KSS) dispatcher listening in to that call made sure their helicopter and crew were on their way.

"Then a second car stopped and, fortunately, one of the passengers knew how to perform CPR. He kept me alive for 18 minutes.

"When the air ambulance arrived just four minutes later, the incredibly skilled and professional KSS team swung into action."

"I am so, so, so lucky. It took me a long time to come to terms with how lucky I was. It was not my time and it is something you will always be grateful for."

Paul had fractured his skull despite wearing a helmet, had multiple rib fractures and was put into an induced coma to protect his brain from the lack of oxygen.

He was then flown to King's College Hospital in London where he spent two weeks recovering.

"It is so important people wear a helmet. I see people riding around going to the shops, it is so dangerous," the Kingsingfield Close resident added.

"I am a fit person but you do not know these things can happen. Cars can clip you, you could come off and hit your head, I am lucky I could have had brain damage.

"Looking back, it happened when I was on my bike and when it happened thankfully I was wearing the right gear and a helmet."

More than 27,000 people were killed or seriously injured on the roads last year, according to government statistics.

This week KSS are joining other organisations and local authorities for charity BRAKE's 2022 Road Safety Week campaign which is raising awareness for safe roads for all.

Air ambulance crews are called to the most serious road traffic collisions (RTCs) and so far this year, its has attended more than 800 incidents on the roads, approximately 30% of its missions.

The charity is urging people to remember to stick to speed limits when driving, take extra care when there are poor conditions, wear visible clothing and a bike helmet at all times when cycling and choose places with good visibility when crossing a road.

Chief executive of KSS, David Welch, said: "Paul was incredibly lucky that cars behind him stopped to help during this incident – he was also wearing a helmet which prevented him from being more seriously injured.

"Sadly, however, far too many people die or have life changing injuries as a result of incidents on our roads. RTCs account for around one third of our missions and many of these devastating incidents were avoidable.

"We are urging people during Road Safety Week to think about the steps they can take to keep themselves and others safe and to remember RTC victims, share their stories and keep their memories alive."