A BIG-HEARTED Rowley Regis schoolboy is raising funds for the air ambulance after a crew helped his grandfather before he died in a tragic accident.

Six-year-old Dexter Roberts is set to walk six-miles in the Midlands Air Ambulance Charity's Walk4Life event in Rock, Worcestershire, on Sunday May 5.

The charity is close to the Blackheath Primary School pupil’s heart after his grandad Maurice Roberts was treated by an air ambulance crew after falling off the roof of their house in Mountford Close.

Although they could not save his life, the crew enabled the whole family to say goodbye to the much-loved 72-year-old at the QE hospital before his life support was switched off.

To donate to Dexter's fundraising total visit the JustGiving page at http://bit.ly/2XFQwfH.

Dexter caught the attention of staff at the charity and has been chosen to be a mascot at the charity's celebrity football match in Walsall on Saturday May 11, rubbing shoulders with stars such as Calum Best and James Argent. He will also wave the flag at its Bike4Life Ride Out and Festival, which kicks off in Shrewsbury on Sunday (April 28).

Dexter's proud mum Katie Roberts said: "Sadly Dexter lost his grandad to a tragic accident and the Air Ambulance came to his help but couldn’t save him, ever since that date Dexter has committed himself to raising awareness and raising funds for the Midlands Air Ambulance.

"Last year Dexter walked three miles in the Walk4Life - Pound the Bounds - raising £600 - this year he is challenging himself to walk six miles - so far he has raised £200.

"As his mum I am immensely proud of Dexter and I know his grandad would also be very proud.

"Dexter wants to one day make his dreams come true and become an air ambulance paramedic himself."

Maurice was doing work to a roof when his ladder fell from under him in June 2016. He severed his brain stem - nothing could be done to save him - but paramedics put him in an induced coma at the scene.

He left widow Jill.

On average 2,000 people a year get airlifted, each time on average it costs £2,500 - costing £9 million a year.

The charity operates three air ambulance helicopters and a critical care car.