One of the world's richest men has given 2.6m to Oxford's John Radcliffe Hospital as a thank-you to surgeons who saved his life, reports Victoria Owen.

Last summer, Hong Kong businessman Michael Kadoorie was left critically ill after his beloved vintage Ferrari smashed into a ditch.

He spent two months in the JR's trauma unit, where an NHS team under specialist Keith Willett rebuilt his crushed pelvis and nursed him back to health.

Now he has repaid their dedication with a cash thank-you. His money will mean 1.2m for research and a further 1.4m towards an exchange programme between the JR and Hong Kong's Prince of Wales Hospital.

The 58-year-old - the world's 16th richest man - said: "Having benefited personally, I was particularly keen to lend my support to the development of the critical care training and research in Oxford and also extend this knowledge to Hong Kong.

"I am delighted that we have been able to achieve both of these objectives in separate funding programmes, both of which will utilise the high level of expertise now present at the JR."

Surgeon Mr Willett said: "He didn't understand why he - as a non-British citizen - received such high-quality care, because the UK owed him nothing."

Mr Kadoorie, whose family's interests in Asia include hotels, transportation and energy companies, was running his business empire from his hospital bed within days of surgery and is now water skiing and flying his helicopter again.

Mr Willett said: "He has a very fatalistic view and believed that something should come out of the accident."