A PARAMEDIC who was diagnosed with a brain tumour in September has written a series of children’s story books which he will leave in his legacy to Wiltshire Air Ambulance.

Mick Saye, 55 from Warminster has spent the last few months putting together a series of eight stories, Toby, a five and a half year old boy.

On Tuesday Mick was presented with the printed book, illustrated by his former colleague Helen Essery, as a surprise at the Wiltshire Air Ambulance base in Semington, where he was thanked for leaving the books to the charity as his legacy.

Mr Sye has worked as an Emergency Care Assistant at Warminster Ambulance Station since 2016, having previously volunteered as a Community First Responder.

He is currently receiving treatment for his brain cancer which, although will not heal the cancer, will hopefully slow down his deterioration.

He said: “Wiltshire Air Ambulance does a fantastic job. Working as a Community First Responder and latterly as an Emergency Care Assistant, I worked alongside as the crew saved lives.

“When I attended emergency incidents and Wiltshire Air Ambulance were called in to provide their expertise it reassured me.

“The helicopter emergency medical service team are specialists and it was nice to call on that expertise to give the best possible care to patients.

“It’s an excellent service - funded by donations - for the people of Wiltshire and surrounding counties and to lose that resource would be a disaster.

“Anything that I can do to help maintain the aircraft with monies raised from my book will be worthwhile. Hopefully the book will generate something to keep Wiltshire Air Ambulance going for it to continue saving lives for years to come. At my funeral service donations will be for Wiltshire Air Ambulance.”

Jane Whichello is South Western Ambulance Service’s Deputy County Commander for Wiltshire, and she has been in charge of coordinating the surprise book for him Mr Sye.

She said: “This has been a positive and heart-warming project that has sprung from such a sad situation following Mick’s sudden diagnosis. It demonstrates some huge hidden talents behind those green ambulance uniforms and it has been a privilege to bring those skills together for the benefit of Wiltshire Air Ambulance, who do such valuable work every day.

“Mick’s stories and Helen’s pictures will bring lots of joy to young children.”

The book, printed by RHL Print in Swindon, can be purchased at the charity’s airbase in Semington.