Newhaven Marina manager John Stirling, 59, sliced his arm off while gardening at home in Ambleside Avenue, Telscombe Cliffs, on September 29.

He managed to walk across the road, knock on a neighbour's door and ask for help.

Neighbour Steve Francis tied a tourniquet around the arm to stop the bleeding and retrieved the arm from Mr Stirling's garden.

He protected it by putting it in a bag of frozen pastries and, as a resulr, doctors were able to reattach it.

Mr Stirling's wife Noreen said: 'It's only been just over a week since
my husband's terrible accident, but I'm absolutely amazed and delighted that he is now making good progress.

'John and myself, and the rest of our family, would like to take this opportunity to give our greatest heart-warm thanks to Mr Khandwala and all the team at the Queen Victoria Hospital in East Grinstead, who have so skilfully reattached John's forearm and looked after him.

'Words alone can't begin to express our gratitude to Steve Francis who helped my husband immediately after the accident, and whose swift actions undoubtedly saved his life.

'Thanks also to our other neighbours, family and friends who have been so supportive since.

'Lastly I would like to commend my husband for his bravery, strength and determination that has got him through this awful accident, and we look forward to him coming home soon.'

Mr Asit Khandwala, consultant plastic surgeon, Queen Victoria Hospital, East Grinstead, said: 'We are pleased that Mr Stirling continues to progress so well, and that the operation to replant his arm appears to have been a success.

'The patient is now on a long journey of the support he will need, including by our hand therapists, to restore movement and get back to normality.'