A MAN who was helped by the Kent Air Ambulance four years ago has spoken of his gratitude at the launch of the trust's new fund-raising lottery.

Paul Mahoney, 31, from Chappell Way, Sittingbourne, nearly lost an arm in an accident at Kemsley paper mill in November 2000.

He said: "The air ambulance got me to hospital in East Grinstead in Sussex in just 12 minutes. Their quick response was very important. They were part of a jigsaw that saved my arm and my life."

"We had been clearing out a machine that breaks down the paper. First of all I felt my bones crack, and I thought 'fair enough, I've broken my arm'. But I went to pull my arm out and the arm didn't come. It took the hospital 16 hours to reattach it."

Mr Mahoney's colleague Darren Carpenter, who helped care for his friend until the ambulance arrived, also attended the launch at the Chequers shopping centre in Maidstone.

The new lottery costs just £1 a week and each lottery member is allocated a unique number which is then entered into a weekly draw with prizes of up to £500.

Everyone who joins the lottery before April 1 will also be entered into a draw to win a Fiat Panda 1.1, donated by Pipers of Maidstone.

David Philpott, chief executive of Kent Air Ambulance Trust, said: "It has been possible to buy a scratch card but I am of the view that this lottery is better because it is not about impulse buying.

"It is about the growing numbers of people who want to contribute to the air ambulance. It's £1 a week and most people won't notice it coming out."

Lottery membership application forms are available at Pipers of Maidstone in Upper Stone Street. Tim Bowler, managing director at Pipers, said: "I simply can't think of a better charity to support, because it benefits the whole of Kent."

"Further information on the lottery is available from the trust on 01622 833833.

Representatives from the Kent Air Ambulance Trust gathered at Maidstone's Chequers Shopping Centre on Monday (January 19) to launch the new initiative.