A DAD who blacked out and fell down a Saddleworth stone icon has met the air ambulance heroes who helped to save his life.
Imran Choudhury, from Chadderton, was training for a walk up Mount Kilimanjaro in Africa in aid of the Royal Oldham Hospital and charity, Global Relief Trust, by scaling The Trinnacle on Saddleworth Moor on February 23.
But he blacked out and fell from the three-pronged gritstone stack, which is perched on hills at Ravenstones near Dovestones.
Imran shortly before his fall
The alarm was raised by two passersby and an 18-strong team from Oldham Mountain Rescue Team rushed to the scene where he was taken to a waiting Yorkshire Air Ambulance and flown to Sheffield's Northern General Hospital intensive care unit for urgent medical treatment.
Initially there were fears he may lose his right leg but after work by surgeons his leg was saved.
He has made good progress in his recovery and has shown his appreciation to the mountain rescue team by delivering food from his family business New Polash Takeaway on Drury Lane in Chadderton.
Imran in hospital during his recovery
Back in April he and his family also delivered 280 chicken biryanis to the Northern General Hospital in Sheffield.
And on Tuesday, Imran visited the Nostell Air Support Unit near Wakefield in West Yorkshire, where the Yorkshire Air Ambulance Service is based and met the medical professionals who helped to save his life.
Imran, 36, said: "I was amazed to see the great work they do.
"I don't think anyone can realise the complex and amazing work they do to save people’s lives until someone sees with their own eyes.
"It was a great feeling, though very emotional for me.
"It was great to see the call handler Lisa, paramedic Alexander, doctor Andy and pilot Lee who were involved with my rescue mission.
"I wanted to visit the base of the organisation which helped to save my life with our NHS and to thank them personally.
"I couldn’t stop myself from giving them hugs.
"As a little treat, I took lamb biryani with me for all the staff members of the Nostell Base Yorkshire Air Ambulance this time, from my family business."
Imran with food outside the New Polash Takeaway
He added: "Yorkshire Air Ambulance is close to my heart for ever."
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here