Singer Le Bon backs Air Ambulance charity
Duran Duran frontman Simon Le Bon has visited the Air Ambulance Service's headquarters as part of his new role as an ambassador for the charity.
He met staff and sat inside one of the charity's helicopters at Coventry Airport in Baginton.
The charity provides emergency medical services for Warwickshire, Derbyshire, Northamptonshire, Leicestershire, Rutland and Milton Keynes.
The singer said it was vital the service was maintained.
"I grew up watching Thunderbirds International Rescue and I think as a kid you have this idea that if anything really bad happens, somebody is going to come and get you and this is the closest thing that we actually have to that," he said.
The 53-year-old, who is supporting the service's national publicity campaign, said he was keen to help the charity after he was rescued from a capsized yacht during the Fastnet Yacht Race 27 years ago.
"It's vitally important for us to have an Air Ambulance Service in Great Britain.
"I am speaking as someone who is only here today because of the life-saving efforts of a Royal Navy helicopter rescue team."
The charity, which also operates out of East Midlands Airport, said it costs about £2m a year to run each helicopter and the aircraft are used about 150 times a month.
Alex Toft, director of operations, said he was really pleased Le Bon had given his backing to the charity.