Pilot who survived a plane crash with 63% third degree burns explained the experience

An SAS soldier was forced to jump from a smouldering plane to save his life, burning 63 percent of his body in the process.

"I was under no illusion that if I didn't get out of that cockpit quick the likelihood was I wasn't going to make it," he told us as part of our Minutes With series.

"The only option I foresaw was indeed to try to get out of that cockpit early, but I needed to get her, the aircraft, to a safe level to have any chance of pulling that off."

With the flames lapping his face as he made his descent, Hull climbed on to the wing.

He recalled: "I got on to that left hand wing, clambering over that door lip, and then I stood on the wing, and was able to stand on the wing momentarily.

"I jumped, I would estimate at a height of 15ft. In reality I was probably traversing at perhaps 30 knots (34 mph) so it was a tremendously hard impact.

"Even though I landed feet first I then thrust forwards and smashed my face on the sharp Florida razor grass below.

"The only way I can describe that is like a tsunami of pain, that washed over me from head to toe," he said.

"I just cannot describe the intensity of that."

Hull's face was fractured in numerous places, and he ruptured his large intestine and lacerated his liver when landing.

On top of that, he sustained 63 percent third degree burns.

Thankfully, the emergency services were quick to arrive at the scene - but the next six months of his life were a blur.

Doctors gave him a five percent chance of survival, but over a period of two years in hospital - during which time he underwent more than 60 operations - Hull made a recovery.