IMAGINE how surprised a young man was when he unwrapped a delivery of crabs in a London restaurant and the newspaper they were wrapped in (an old copy of the “Crediton Courier”) showed friends in Copplestone raising money for Devon Air Ambulance.

David Brassington had needed the red air ambulance in 2015 when he was knocked off his motorbike and then again at the end of 2020 when he was hit by a van when out cycling with a friend.

David’s son, Simon, had also needed the air ambulance this March when he was injured at work when a dumper truck he was using suddenly tipped.

He was found to have a fractured skull, was airlifted to Derriford Hospital for urgent surgery, transferred to the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital and, eventually, to Mardon Neuro Rehabilitation Centre.

Simon had been going to run this summer in the Race to the Stones, a 100-km ultra marathon from Lewknor to Avebury, a challenging route on The Ridgeway, to raise money for DAA in appreciation for all they do.

That has been deferred but his brother Matthew and 20 of their friends and family took part in a 100-km relay this summer, each running 5km. That raised an amazing £13,860 for DAA.

Matthew, David and Eileen’s eldest son, is now back in Australia. A friend, working as a chef with Gordon Ramsay at the Savoy in London is Tom Warren.

It was he who took delivery of the crabs, had the surprise of his life to see an article about Simon and his father. He sent a WhatsApp message to Matthew in Australia which is how the story went around the world for that family.