Matt Spedding is jolted awake by a huge explosion. Then another, which makes the building shake.

An air raid siren goes off - a warning of more to come - before another three rockets hit.

Looking out of the window of his hotel room in the town of Berdychiv in Ukraine, Matt sees the reflection of an explosion in the glass-fronted building opposite.

The former ambulance worker from Margate, who went to the war-struck country to put together a combat medic programme, admits it was at this point he thought he was going to die.

It was also the moment he knew he needed to return home to his family in the UK - that he'd "put them through enough" - although he is determined to continue his efforts and won't rule out returning to Ukraine.

The 29-year-old had travelled across the border last week after flying into Poland, with plans to travel towards the embattled city of Kyiv, together with a group of British ex-military servicemen he met on his journey.

But he says things "went crazy" when the town he was staying in got hit by five rockets, one hitting a TV station building nearby.

"I was woken by loud explosions," he recalls.

"There is a cellar in the hotel we were staying in and a lot of the locals headed down there, but I thought if another rocket hits I'm not going to have a chance to get down there.

"The stairs were covered in glass and I thought 'I'm never going to make it'. So I stayed in the room and pulled a mattress over me.

"It was terrifying. I genuinely thought a missile was going to hit the hotel and that I was going to die.

"Opposite the hotel was a building with darkened glass windows and I could see the reflection of the explosion. I don't know how close it was but it must have been quite near."

He admits it was at this moment he considered what he was putting his family and partner through.

"She's supported me 100% but I know she's barely slept with the worry," he said.

"When I was in the hotel room, thinking it was going to get hit, I became more certain that I needed to leave.

"I still had a little bit of work to do so I didn't leave immediately. But I'm in Poland now and flying into Luton this evening."

The former SECAmb associate practitioner, also a freelance court service worker, said he had been on holiday with his girlfriend Rochelle Oliver in the Lake District two weeks ago when he decided he wanted to help out in Ukraine.

He flew out shortly after, arriving in Poland, then crossing the border with the aim of setting up a combat medic programme.

During his time there he has also helped in the humanitarian effort, handing out supplies to parents and their children.

"We thought we'd cross the border and the effort would be co-ordinated for what we were there to do, but that wasn't really the case, there was no structure.

"I knew what I wanted to do out there, I just had to find it and I've made lots of contacts so I can continue my efforts.

"It's been massively appreciated out there."

He recalls going to a supermarket where the shelves were bare, and paying for people's things.

"People were grabbing what they could. We were quite far into the country and aid hadn't got there.

"We bought toys and sweets, colouring books and pencils and handed them out to all the kids."

He says older generations in the town are determined to stay and stand their ground.

"Then there are families who are getting ready to leave, but are going to do it at the last minute," he added.

"And then of course there are the men that have to stay and fight."

He says the situation with refugees is particularly heart-wrenching, with children forced to stand in the freezing cold for hours on end waiting to be let through the border into Poland.

This is simply due to the sheer numbers and having to wait to have documents signed.

"There are blankets being given out and basic things, but these people have had to leave their homes. They are terrified," he said.

"You've got these children standing in the freezing cold, dragged from their homes, crying, they don't know where they are going.

"You get into Poland and they're brilliant; you've got food stalls and medical areas. They're doing well hosting, it's very organised and that was good to see."

Matt says while he's going home for his family, he plans to go back to Ukraine to continue his efforts or help those wanting to go out to provide aid.

He is also raising money to go towards a mini-bus for a friend in Ukraine.

"This has really opened my eyes. I've always wanted to help people, I've got a big heart," he said.

"I'm not a hero and I'm not trying to be a hero, this certainly isn't about the glory, I've just done what I feel is right."