Dad Simon Benney has raised more than £30,000 for SWIFT Medics as thanks for saving his 11-year-old son’s life.

The 44-year-old raised money for the charity by asking friends and business contacts for donations and he also completed the Marathon des Sables in 2010 – a 250km race across the Sahara Desert.

Now he is considering tackling the gruelling run again to raise even more funding.

In 2009 his son, Todd, a pupil at St Francis School, Pewsey, was hit by a car in Frees Avenue, Marlborough, after a practice session at the town rugby club on The Common.

He suffered serious leg injuries and was airlifted to Frenchay Hospital in Bristol.

But Mr Benney said his condition would have been far worse had it not been for the intervention of SWIFT Medic Dr Jonathan Glover, who was at Marlborough Common at the time of the accident watching his son play rugby.

Mr Benney, a jeweller from Brimslade, said: “If it hadn’t been for Jonathan’s expertise and skills being on hand, right there, on the scene at the accident, we are absolutely sure that Todd would have been at the very least seriously physically disabled and, at worst, possibly not survived.

“As a family we will be forever grateful to this incredible group of doctors who are prepared to volunteer their time and skills to support the emergency services. I am very proud to say that I have in a small part been able to help them be there for more people.”

The money he has raised means that the charity has been able to recruit, train and equip three more pre-hospital care emergency doctors to work in their team and save lives across Wiltshire.

It is estimated that 150 more people each year will now receive support from a SWIFT Medics emergency doctor, thanks to Mr Benney’s efforts.