A WOMAN whose life was saved by the region’s air ambulance has turned the tables – and come to its aid.

Stella Downing, of Pickering, North Yorkshire, was saved by the Great North Air Ambulance Service when she suffered a severe brain haemorrhage at home last year.

Now fully recovered, the accounts worker visited the charity’s Darlington headquarters today, December 2, to draw the winners of the charity’s 2013 car raffle.

The top prize of a brand new Suzuki Alto car went to a ticket holder from Long Newton, near Darlington.

Second prize of an overnight stay at luxury hotel Rockliffe Hall, Hurworth, was won by a ticket holder in Prudhoe, Northumberland.

The third prize, £100, was won by a ticket holder in the Hartlepool area.

Mrs Downing, 44, who is now fundraising for GNAAS, said: “I was just happy to be asked to do the draw. They saved my life, the charity means everything to me.”

The charity’s head of fund-raising, Mandy Drake, said more than 111,000 tickets were sold for the raffle, with an additional £20,000 in donations taking the overall income to more than £130,000.

She added: “We would like to thank everyone who supported the draw by buying a ticket.

“To raise more than £130,000 for the charity is a phenomenal achievement and one which will save lives throughout our region.”

The winning ticket holders will be contacted as soon as possible.

First prize winning ticket number: 571723 Second prize: 100261 Third prize: 375432