Mystery benefactor pledges to match every pound donated to Northamptonshire's air ambulance campaign

It means that for every £1 a supporter gives, an anonymous donor has pledged to donate £1 – effectively doubling the value of every donation the air ambulance receives.

Victor Ferriday, fundraising coordinator for Northampton, said: “Being able to double our supporters’ money is very exciting for us.

“We receive no government funding, so appeals like this are essential to keep our service running. As each mission the air ambulance flies costs around £1,700, being able to raise double the money of a normal appeal will help us to keep flying and saving lives.”

The campaign is being supported by former patient Daisy Rughobeer, who suffered a terrifying accident in December of last year.

Daisy was walking down the stairs when she suddenly lost her footing, falling and hitting her head hard on the corner of a wooden radiator cover.

Immediately, parents Danny and Claire rushed to the scene and saw Daisy had a 10cm gash just above her eye, going all the way down to the bone.

Warwickshire & Northamptonshire Air Ambulance received the call at 3.02pm, and were at the scene of the accident in eight minutes.

They cleaned and bandaged Daisy’s wound, then flew her from her home in Warwickshire to a hospital in Coventry where she was stitched by staff there.

Danny Rughobeer, Daisy’s dad, said: “If you are in two minds about donating, I would say please do – especially as your gift will be doubled in this appeal. You just don’t know when you might need the air ambulance.

“Just knowing they are coming is such a relief, and when they arrived it was like a team of saviours descending.”

To donate to the appeal or find out more about your local air ambulance, go to www.theairambulanceservice.org.uk/springappeal or call the charity directly on 08454 130999.