THE family and friends of a courageous 94-year-old have raised more than £6,500 to thank the airbone medics who saved her life.

Rose Smiles suffered a head injury and severe leg injuries after being hit by a car while crossing the High Street, Knaresborough, last September.

She was airlifted to hospital where surgeons had to amputate her left leg below the knee. Her right leg was also badly damaged and Rose is now wheelchair bound but her recovery has amazed medics.

Her large and grateful family have now come together to thank Yorkshire Air Ambulance for getting Maggie to specialist surgeons in time and want to raise £12,000 – the amount it costs every day to keep the charity’s helicopter ambulances flying.

Rose’s daughter Maggie Maltby from Knaresborough and two of her grandchildren, Ellie and Sarah Priest from Brighton, did a sponsored skydive in February and 17 family members and friends have just taken part in the Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge.

Before her accident Rose walked into Knaresborough each day and local people have also been supporting the family’s fund raising drive by donating in Yorkshire Air Ambulance collection tins.

Ellie, 29, said: “My grandma is an incredible lady and a very special part of our family. She has been through so much and we are all so grateful to the Yorkshire Air Ambulance for what they did that day.

“If it was not for them, Grandma Rose would not be here today. She would not have survived a road ambulance journey to hospital and that is why we wanted to come together as a family to do something positive and to say thank you.”

To support Rose’s family in their fundraising efforts go to justgiving.com/teams/grandmasmiles