Tree surgeon saved by Prince William didn't recognise him: 'I said Wills better not be flying this'

Prince William and his colleagues came to the rescue of a tree surgeon who was injured after a tree he was working on fell back on him. Despite being cared for by the future King, Jim Schembri, 37, has admitted that he didn't recognise the royal.

Jim was knocked unconscious and had to be rescued by the East Anglia Air Ambulance, the charity that William works for as an air ambulance pilot.

The Prince held Jim's head while he was being treated by medical staff, and later flew him to a local hospital.

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Prince William held the man's head for 30 minutes before flying him to hospital

During an appearance on Good Morning Britain, Jim said he even joked he hoped William wasn't flying the chopper.

"It wasn't until they were actually loading me into the helicopter and I said 'Willsy better not be flying this thing' and he turned around and said 'Oh, I've been holding your head for the last thirty minutes' that it clicked," said Jim.

"And then I said, 'Oh you better come and see me later'."

© Photo: Rex

The Prince later checked up on the patient in the trauma room

William did, and checked up on Jim in the trauma room. The injured tree surgeon suffered a dislocated shoulder and hip, but has now recovered.

William's recent rescue mission comes after the royal shrugged off claims he is "work-shy". Balancing his day job with royal duties has meant that the Duke has completed around 15 shifts this year. Air ambulance pilots usually work nine and a half shifts on a four-on, four-off rota.

© Photo: Getty Images

William recently shrugged off claims he is "work-shy"

In an interview with ITV's Mark Austin, the Prince was asked if he found it annoying that his workload was being questioned.

William responded saying receiving criticism is "part of the job" and denied giving a more detailed answer. "Today is more about talking about the poaching crisis," he said.

Prince Charles' son returned to work last week, after nearly four weeks off the job. William was seen inspecting and preparing his helicopter at the East Anglian Air Ambulance base at Cambridge airport, as he awaited a call out.