Paul Reynolds nearly lost an arm in a farm machinery accident in 2022 and needed 11 operations. He is now a trustee of the air ambulance that treated him.

A man who nearly lost his arm in a farm machinery accident is now a trustee of Air Ambulance Charity Kent Surrey Sussex (KSS), the charity that treated him and the air ambulance service for Dartford and the rest of Kent.

Paul Reynolds, from West Sussex, was badly hurt in November 2022. A KSS team was sent to him, working alongside South East Coast Ambulance Service and Sussex Fire and Rescue Service. He was taken by road to the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton and went through 11 operations.

Today he is back at work, and he is telling his story as Trustees Week begins. The week runs from 9 to 13 November and is aimed at recognising the people who sit on charity boards and persuading others to join them.

“It’s a privilege”

Paul said: “My accident happened in an instant, but its impact on me and my family was life-changing. The care I received from KSS and the wider emergency services team that day was exceptional, and I will always be grateful for the role they played in my recovery.

“Becoming a Trustee has given me an opportunity to give something back to a charity that means so much to me. It’s a privilege to use my experience and skills to help ensure KSS can continue to be there for people and families when they need it most.”

The picture above shows him with Dr Rob Greenhalgh, who was part of the KSS team that cared for him that day.

His family have become supporters too. His daughter Izzy has twice run the London Marathon to raise money for the charity.

What the board of a £57,000-a-day service does

KSS says it costs £57,000 a day to run its helicopters and crews, money that comes largely from people in the communities it serves. It responded to more than 3,100 incidents in 2024-25, an average of over nine emergency calls a day. The charity is headquartered in Rochester and its helicopters operate out of Redhill Aerodrome.

Trustees are volunteers. At KSS, the charity says, they come from healthcare, finance, governance, communications, fundraising and business, and they set its strategic direction, oversee its governance and make sure “every pound donated is used effectively to maximise public benefit”.

What it means for you

The Charity Commission, which regulates charities in England and Wales, is using the week to ask more people to consider the role. Holly Riley, its Head of Policy, said: “Paul’s story is incredible. His decision to give back to the charity that saved his life is in turn helping Air Ambulance Charity Kent Surrey Sussex save more lives.

“Trustees Week is all about celebrating people like Paul who give up their time to help others. There are nearly 1 million trustees in the UK offering their time, skills and support to good causes we all care about; but we know from our research that charities, particularly smaller ones, can struggle to recruit trustees.

“Maybe there’s a cause, close to your heart or home, in need of a trustee. What better time than Trustees Week to look into the opportunities near you?”

More about the role is on the Trustees Week website, and more about the air ambulance service is on the KSS website.