The pilot who flew BBC presenter Richard Hammond to hospital after his high-speed crash has retired after a decade with Yorkshire Air Ambulance (YAA).
Captain Steve Cobb has flown hundreds of missions for the rapid response emergency charity and was appointed its chief pilot in 2005.
Many of the missions have been in the Huddersfield area.
Capt Cobb, who hails from Batley, flew the Top Gear host to Leeds General Infirmary (LGI) following a crash at Elvington Airfield near York in 2006.
Hammond, who was fighting for his life after sustaining serious head injuries in a 280mph jet car crash, went on to make a full recovery, in large part because of the speed he was transferred to LGI.
The 59-year-old said: “The Richard Hammond incident was certainly the one that generated the most interest, although it was actually one of the easiest jobs I’ve done.
“But landing on that airfield ended up being one of the biggest events for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance - leading to enough money being raised to put a deposit down for our second helicopter.”
Capt Cobb began his flying career after spotting a roadside advert for helicopter lessons in 1986 and got his commercial licence in 1992. He became a full-time charter pilot in 1995, based near Leeds Bradford Airport.
His move into emergency service flying came by chance, after the YAA helicopter landed at his heliport on a mission.
He said: “This job is literally the best single thing you can do with a helicopter.
“It’s been amazing meeting those people who want to come back and say thank you for what we’ve done for them - people are so grateful for what the air ambulance does and it has been very special to work for a charity that is so appreciated and valued.
“The overriding thing that sticks with you from the job is how quickly your life can change.
“One minute you’re doing something completely normal and the next, because of something out of the ordinary, it can be over. It certainly makes you appreciate life.”
