A 30-year-old man who nearly died after an accident with an angle grinder returned to the caravan dealership where it happened to thank the staff who saved his life.

North Norfolk News: Matt LeFevre returns to Downtide Caravans in Alby to thank the staff for helping him after an accident with an angle grinder. Matt, centre, with, left to right, Bruce Peck, Henry West, Tom LeFevre (brother), Francesca John (fiance), Adam Pink, David West, Joel Good and Hayley Heslin.Picture: ANTONY KELLYMatt LeFevre returns to Downtide Caravans in Alby to thank the staff for helping him after an accident with an angle grinder. Matt, centre, with, left to right, Bruce Peck, Henry West, Tom LeFevre (brother), Francesca John (fiance), Adam Pink, David West, Joel Good and Hayley Heslin.Picture: ANTONY KELLY (Image: Archant Norfolk 2018)

Matt LeFevre lost 2.5 litres of blood and needed eight hours of emergency surgery after a blade cut deep into his upper leg, severing an artery and a vein.

It happened about 10am on Friday, June 1, when the father-of-two was working on window frames at Downtide Caravans in Alby-with-Thwaite in north Norfolk.

Mr LeFevre, who lives in Argyle Street, Norwich, said had it not been for the quick-thinking staff at the business he would have died.

And he returned to the scene today to thank those that came to his aid.

North Norfolk News: Matt LeFevre returns to Downtide Caravans in Alby to thank the staff for helping him after an accident with an angle grinder. The scar from the accident.Picture: ANTONY KELLYMatt LeFevre returns to Downtide Caravans in Alby to thank the staff for helping him after an accident with an angle grinder. The scar from the accident.Picture: ANTONY KELLY (Image: Archant Norfolk 2018)

He said: 'I just want to say thank you - I cannot put it into words, really. I thought I was going to die. I had cut an artery and I knew what that could mean.'

The centre's employees rushed to his aid, keeping pressure on the wound to stem the bleeding using towels.

They also called an ambulance for Mr LeFevre, who is a self-employed handyman and due to get married to fiancée Francesca John, 28, on June 29 next year.

Medical help arrived after about 15 minutes, and he was given a blood transfusion on the way to the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital.

North Norfolk News: Matt LeFevre in hospital with his brother Tom LeFevre. Picture: ANTONY KELLYMatt LeFevre in hospital with his brother Tom LeFevre. Picture: ANTONY KELLY (Image: Archant Norfolk 2018)

Hayley Heslin, 37, one of the employees who came to his aid, said: 'I was in the shop and heard this almighty scream. It was a sound I will never forget.

'Matt was sitting in lots of blood. We put blankets round his legs and Joel Good took his T-shirt off and wrapped that around. It was just instinct.

'It's really emotional to see him back here. At the time we did not know how it was going to go, as he had lost an awful amount of blood.'

Mr LeFevre left hospital on his 30th birthday but he has not returned to work yet. His family are worried about him returning to work as a handyman, and he might take a job with his father, who runs a transport company, as a delivery driver.