Friends splash out for air ambulance (From The Oxford Times)

Youngsters in Marcham do sponsored swim to thank air ambulance

8:46am Thursday 18th December 2008 in News By Herald Reporter

FRIENDS of a little boy who was hit by a car have raised almost £500 for the air ambulance that helped save his life.

Eight-year-old Matthew Plant was knocked down as he played in the street outside his home in Haimes Court, Marcham, in October.

The Marcham Primary School pupil fractured his skull in two places and broke his leg so badly, he had to be airlifted to hospital.

Twin brother John and best friend Adam Sandford decided to do a sponsored swim to raise money for the Thames Valley and Chiltern Air Ambulance Trust, as a thank you for helping their friend.

Matthew, who is a football-mad Liverpool fan, was playing a game with his brother when he lost control of the ball and ran out in front of a moving car.

Adam, also eight, said he had been on his way to his friend’s house to swap football ‘match attack’ cards when he saw the ambulance outside his friend’s home.

He said: “When I found out what happened, I was really scared for Matthew and sad. He was really badly hurt and needed to get a helicopter to hospital. I found out afterwards that it costs a lot for them to fly out, so I decided to try to give them some money back by doing a sponsored swim.”

John was so impressed with his friend’s idea, he decided to join in and between them the pair raised £470, which they plan to donate to the trust over Christmas.

Matthew said he was grateful to both his friend and twin brother.

He said: “I don’t really remember what happened.

“But I’m really happy Adam and John did the swim because if the helicopter doesn’t have donations, they can’t help people like me.”

Adam’s mother, Nicky Sandford, said: “It took a lot for the boys to do the swim, particularly Adam, because he isn’t a strong swimmer.

“They both said they would do 20 lengths, but I think he managed to do 21 lengths in the end.

“He has made me very proud.”

John and Matthew’s mum, Viv Norbury said: “They both just kept going and going.

“It was obviously very worrying for me at the time, but we have had such a lot of support from people.

“Hopefully, Matthew will have his cast off in time for Christmas and all the boys can play together again.”