Craig Drury shows off the tattoo on his back

A former racing champion has paid a special tribute to the air ambulance heroes who rescued him after a crash.

Craig Drury, 19, has had a huge tattoo of the air ambulance chopper inked on his back in memory of the day his life was saved by rescue crews.

Craig, of Sevenoaks, suffered multiple injuries after he was catapulted from his 250cc machine in the last race of the day at Collier Street.

He had a punctured lung, a lacerated liver, a torn spleen, broken ribs, three fractured vertebrae and a broken leg and collarbone.

the former British grasstrack champion was given specialist care by the Air Ambulance doctor and critical care paramedic at the track-side.

They even carried out an advanced medical procedure usually performed only in hospital.

Craig Drury with Chief Pilot, Captain Blaine Ashurst and Dr Steve Rashford

They then flew him to the Royal London Hospital, where he underwent an emergency blood transfusion and spent 12 days in intensive care following the crash in September, 2011.

Now Craig has spoken of his very personal tribute to the service.

He said: “I had it done because I wanted a permanent reminder that the pilot, doctor and paramedic saved my life, and to publicise the charity.

“I’ve already got six tattoos but this one runs from shoulder to shoulder and took three-and-a-half hours to do. It looks amazing.”

Craig visited the helicopter base at Marden to show paramedic Chris Fudge his tattoo.

Chris said: "Obviously we’re just so happy that Craig has done so well. To be as sick as he was at the scene, it’s amazing that he has made this type of recovery.”