Warren Porritt had just minutes to live after he was involved in a near-fatal crash on Father’s Day.

He was riding his beloved Vespa scooter along Sherenden Lane, in Marden, in June 2016, when he was thrown off into the middle of the road.

The 54-year-old said: “I thought I would take my beautiful scooter out for a quick ride. Unfortunately, that quick ride turned into being away from home for 12 weeks.

“I had a head-on collision with a car on a blind bend on a single-track country lane.”

Warren broke all his ribs on his right side, fragments of which darted through his thorax and lacerated his spleen, kidney and liver. He lost nine pints of blood.

His lungs also collapsed under the pressure meaning he was able to breathe in but not out.

“It is going to sound silly but I am really proud of and passionate about Vespas and Lambrettas. I had a beautiful Vespa,” the dad-of-two added.

“I was lying there, looking at the sun, feeling hot, my body was going into survival mode and I just felt winded.

“Where I had fallen off my bike, it had gone one way and I was really concerned. I thought whatever has happened to it, it is not going to buff out.

“I was lying on the tarmac in the middle of the road and I remember being calmed and reassured by these normal people dressed in red.”

The Air Ambulance Charity Kent, Surrey and Sussex (KSS) were called to the scene and were able to perform a blood transfusion and administer anaesthetic on the side of the road.

Warren, of Howland Road, Marden, was then taken back to the airbase where he was treated at the helicopter hanger before being flown to King's College Hospital, in London.

He added: “I was in quite an alien situation. They were so calm, reassuring and matter-of-fact and I just felt so relaxed.

“I do not remember a single bit of pain despite the catastrophic injuries I had.”

When he arrived at the hospital, Warren was put in an induced coma.

Following multiple operations he was discharged after 12 weeks.

He added: “I would absolutely not be here today without KSS. I was told that I had seconds to minutes to live after they arrived at the scene.

“There were three procedures that they had to do immediately and if they had been done in a different order I might not be standing here today.

“Fortunately, they made instinctive decisions and the interventions they made saved my life within minutes.

“When I came out from a very traumatic long stay in the hospital and following lots of operations, my head was scrambled.

“I had very strange insecurities, I felt highly vulnerable but KSS invited me down to the base to meet the team and that was a life-saving experience on its own.

“All of a sudden I had this new family. They really are another forever, extended family.”

Warren is now sharing his story to support the charity’s urgent Buy it for Life appeal which has been launched to raise funds so it can purchase its second helicopter and secure the future of the service.

Until now KSS has hired the aircraft but at the end of last year it found out its aviation partner was going to be sold and potentially fall into administration.

This meant there could be a significant price increase in the cost of running the helicopter.

KSS is now looking to purchase it instead of leasing it, which will save the charity about half a million pounds a year and allow it to fly for an extra six hours a day and in more challenging weather conditions.

However, it only has until the end of May to secure the second aircraft which is set to cost £1 million.

Warren said: “It is absolutely critical. I do not think I have ever known the word urgency as being as paramount as it is now.

“SECAmb [South East Coast Ambulance Service] provides an amazing service but the standards of training and expertise with KSS’ doctors and paramedics means they can bring the operating theatre to the roadside. I am testament to that.”

To donate to the KSS Buy it for Life appeal, please click here or go to aakss.org.uk/helicopter.

Anyone who donates £100 or more can also have their name, the name of a family member or friend, community group, team or business placed onto the helicopter.

Warren added: “Times are tough and some people might not have the financial resources to contribute but even small amounts of money can buy new pieces of kit or can contribute towards buying a helicopter.

“Awareness is also a really big thing, spread the word and and make this appeal word of mouth.”

KSS is called to the most serious medical emergencies in Kent, Surrey and Sussex, making around nine missions every day.