For almostfive decades, Ernie Roe has tried not to think about a horrific plane crash - until a chance sequence of events led him to confront his worst nightmares. Cartherine Jewitt reports.

THE engine of the aircraft began to stutter as it skimmed just above the canopy of the steamy Malaysian jungle.

Inside, Army driver Ernie Roe had little time to react as the pilot lost control and the plane crashed into the dense forest below.

What had been a routine supply drop ended in tragedy with three dead. Mr Roe was one of only four to survive.

The memories of that fateful August 22, 1957, were so horrific that the 67-year-old, of Bishop Auckland, County Durham, has suppressed them - until now.

Last week, he was contacted by Norman Doctor, who served in the same company, after he managed to track him down using the Internet.

Mr Doctor had been handed a collection of military photographs of the crash scene and rescue operation.

At first Mr Roe was not sure he could bear to look at them, but later accepted the offer and for the first time was able to appreciate the incredible luck that had lead to his survival.

"It has been as if fate played a part in it and has given me a greater appreciation of life," he added.

Mr Roe, then a driver with the Royal Army Service Corps 55 Company, was helping to defend the former British colony of Malaysia from Chinese Communists in the 1950s.

He boarded the plane as part of an air despatch team sent from Kuala Lumpur to drop ammunition and food to troops at nearby Tanjong Malum.

"When the plane ran into engine trouble, we all went to strap ourselves in but when I got to my seat there was no belt. When we crashed I was thrown forward. It was so hot I cannot explain the intensity.

"I hurt my back but the pain from the burns was worse, it was unbearable.

"I became delirious and at one point I even wished I was dead."

Five days later, an artillery officer searching the jungle in a spotter plane refused an order to return to base and insisted on one more pass over the area .

He did and spotted the survivors, who were airlifted to safety after rescuers made a clearing in the jungle so a helicopter could land.

Earlier this week, Mr Roe met fellow veterans at a reunion of 55 Company, at Darlington Memorial Hospital's social club.

He said: "I hadn't spoken much about my time in service and suppose I had wondered if I could have done more to save the others. But seeing the pictures and talking about some of the escapades and good times has helped."

The married father-of-two, now also a grandfather, said: "I didn't think I'd want to relive that time but now I can look through the photos and see just how lucky I was.

"It also makes me appreciate the rescue efforts. It featured in a book of unbelievable tales of survival - it took the pictures to make me realise that was true."