Pilot Iain Stingmore, 58, told the Mail Online that he issued a mayday call after losing all airspeed and plummeting to the ground.
First to respond was Hollywood, 59, who was in the area for a helicopter flying lesson when he saw the aircraft’s distress.
Under his instructor’s guidance, the Channel 4 star successfully landed nearby and rushed to assist Stingmore.
Stingmore had emerged from the wreckage relatively unscathed but did sustain some cuts to his leg and a bruised rib.
He later shared his surprise upon recognizing his rescuer: “Oh god, it’s Paul Hollywood.”
The pilot said: “The first thing he said was, ‘Are you okay?’ and luckily enough I was.”
Hollywood stayed with Stingmore for about half an hour according to the Mail, ensuring he wasn’t in need of medical assistance and even joking about the lack of cakes in such a situation.
Stingmore expressed his gratitude, describing Hollywood as a “great bloke” and emphasising that he couldn’t have asked for more support.
Recalling the details of the crash, Stingmore, who has logged 130 flying hours since earning his pilot’s license two years ago, explained that he lost his aircraft’s canopy mid-flight.
He said: “I lost all airspeed and just dropped.
“I was lucky I didn’t panic because it took a couple of seconds to register what happened but I did all I could to get the plane into the wind and kept it as flat and level as I could to land.”
Meanwhile, Hollywood has made headlines in recent months for purchasing a £500,000 helicopter, which has drawn complaints from his Kent neighbours due to the noise from flying lessons – according to the Telegraph.
The television star, who lives in a £1 million mansion in Ashford, has been seen frequently practicing close to his home after opting to have his helicopter flown from Manston Airport instead of Headcorn Aerodrome.
Hollywood had previously stated in an interview with the Times that he began learning to fly as an escape from the “madness” of celebrity life, emphasizing, “It’s just you, a machine, and you’re away from all the madness.”
