Martyn Bacon, of Great Cornard, died when the impact of the explosion struck his body while working for his father's Dial-a-Tyre business in Sudbury.

In a tribute to Martyn and to support the East Anglian Air Ambulance (EAAA) crew that tried to save him, the family handed over £2,225 to the charity at a fundraising event at Sudbury Rugby Club.

A further £500 was raised for a memorial headstone to the 27-year-old.

Eddie Brown, Martyn's uncle, said: "It was a very emotional day and quite upsetting for all of us, but it was also a very positive experience.

"Until this tragedy hit our family, we had no idea the air ambulance relied exclusively on donations.

"It just seemed right that we should honour Martyn and support something so worthwhile in his name."

The bulk of the money was raised by a poker night at the rugby club. Mr Brown, an avid poker player, was due to give Martyn lessons on the game, so he could join him for poker evenings in the pub.

"He was due to come round and we had arranged a night, but he was killed the next day," he said.

Despite the best efforts of the air ambulance paramedics, Martyn died at the scene of the accident at the Chilton Grain premises in Great Waldingfield on July 30, when his body took the full brunt of the air pressure released from the tyre.

Said Mr Brown: "As a family, we can't thank people enough for the support they have shown since Martyn died – from the Rugby club, who gave their venue for free, to all the donations we have received,"

The next fundraising poker event is at Sudbury Rugby Club on Saturday, November 22, at 2.30pm. Everyone is welcome and the money will be split between the air ambulance, the rugby club charity and Cruise, the bereavement charity.

To book a place, call Mr Brown on 07974 244652.

Donations can also be made to the Marytn Bacon Memorial Fund at Barclays Bank.

jonathan.schofield@sudburytoday.co.uk