A MAN who suffered life-changing injuries in a car crash is looking for the mystery woman who came to his aid.

Gary Stanford, 56, put out an appeal on Facebook asking for help in finding the person who looked after him following an incident last year.

On his way back from his granddaughter’s first birthday on December 29, he was driving along Hackman’s Lane heading towards Bicknacre when a serious accident happened.

Coming up to a T-junction near Purleigh, he managed to avoid another driver coming at him, spun out and landed in a bank.

His neck was broken. His wife and grandson, who were in the car with him, were also injured.

He praised the emergency services and an unknown woman who stopped to help him.

He said: “My neck was broken and I couldn’t move.

“Then, a lady from somewhere said ‘Don’t move your neck, don’t move your neck’ and she stayed with me and held my neck.

“The air ambulance was absolutely fantastic.

“They said they couldn’t airlift me because I could’ve broken my spinal cord.

“So they drove me to Royal London Hospital at just 10mph.”

Mr Stanford, from Brentwood, who has a daughter in Latchingdon, said he owed thanks to the woman who made sure his injuries were not made worse.

He said: “I don’t know who she is, but I would like to say thank you to the lady.

“I think she really could have been the one who saved my life.

“I just want to send her some flowers or something.”

Despite doctors saying he would not be able to walk again, Mr Stanford is recovering well and is in physiotherapy.

He said he was simply glad to be alive.

He said: “I’ve started walking with sticks.

“I’m still having a lot of care and lots of spasms but I’m not dead.”

Anyone who has any information about the incident or believes they may have been the person who helped look after him can contact the paper by calling 01376 334341 or emailing pape.gueye@newsquest.co.uk.

A reporter will then make contact with Mr Stanford to pass on any information.