Albion goalkeeper Michel Kuipers has admitted: "I'm lucky to be alive".

The big Dutchman revealed to The Argus he is enjoying every day after cheating death in a car crash.

Kuipers was driving into training last month when he was involved in a collision with another car on Ditchling Beacon Road, Brighton.

He had to be cut free from the wreckage and airlifted to hospital but escaped with minor injuries.

Kuipers, now back in light training, said: "I have seen the pictures of the car and I've been very lucky.

"There are some things you change after you have gone through an experience like that and some things you appreciate more than you did before, just life in general.

"Now I enjoy every day. That is the attitude I have taken to life since the accident and so far that positive attitude has helped a lot with my recovery."

Kuipers believes his training in the Dutch marines helped him remain calm after the accident, but says the whole experience was still very frightening.

"When you are trapped in a car and you can't get out and the fire brigade is cutting you out and you have got an oxygen supply because you cannot breathe it is very scary.

"When you are airlifted to hospital and you have got a brace around your neck and tubes everywhere inside your arm it is very scary, but it's an experience you have to deal with. I stayed really calm. I was in shock but I didn't panic and that made it easier for the medical staff to treat me."

Kuipers was treated at the Princess Royal Hospital in Haywards Heath. He faced an anxious wait before learning he had not been seriously hurt.

The married father-of-one explained: "When I arrived at the hospital there was a trauma team there and different specialists examining my body for damage.

"When they said the main danger was gone that is when I thought 'I am going to get through this'.

"It can go one of two ways. It can make you weak and low on confidence or make you stronger and I'm trying to get stronger because of it."

Kuipers, who watched Albion's 1-1 draw with Port Vale at Withdean on Friday, does not know when he will be fit again to challenge Ben Roberts for the No. 1 jersey.

It was just like any other morning for Michel Kuipers. He kissed wife Rebecca and their 17-month-old son Duke goodbye before setting off on the 20-minute journey into training with Albion.

Kuipers took his usual short cut from his home in Haywards Heath to the sports complex at the University of Sussex, Falmer.

What happened next changed the life of the popular Dutch goalkeeper and left him fearing he would never see his family or team-mates again.

Kuipers, behind the wheel of Rebecca's yellow sports Mazda, was involved in a car crash with a Vauxhall Astra, driven by a policewoman, on the notorious accident blackspot of Ditchling Beacon Road.

The policewoman escaped with a wrist injury, but it looked much worse than that at first for Kuipers.

Fighting for breath and trapped in the wreckage, he had to be cut free by the fire brigade and airlifted to the Princess Royal Hospital at Haywards Heath.

Fellow players feared the worst when manager Mark McGhee broke the news to them after training.

By the afternoon it emerged Kuipers had come through relatively unscathed. He suffered cuts to his face and bruising to his chest, a shoulder, kidneys and groin, an extraordinary escape considering the damage to Rebecca's car.

His wife and son were the first to visit him in hospital. "When Duke saw me he was crying and really panicking," Kuipers revealed. "But when he realised I was going to be okay he was really happy.

"It's really strange. He is only 17 months, but he realised what was going on. It is going to be the best Christmas ever for me, because there have been times when I did not think I was actually going to be here."

The identity of the next hospital visitor after the crash emphasised how well liked Kuipers is within the club.

"The chairman (Dick Knight) was the second person to come and see me, which was really nice," Kuipers said. "I looked in a bad state because they hadn't cleaned me up, so he was quite shocked. He said he was there for me and to support me. It was really special that he did that and it was really appreciated."

The fans adore Kuipers too. The former Dutch marine, who moved into professional football in England with Bristol Rovers, played a leading role in Albion's back-to-back Third and Second Division title triumphs.

The crash on November 20 coincided with a failed attempt by Peter Taylor, his manager for the second of those successes, to re-sign him for Hull.

"One of the things that made me feel better was all the e-mails I received at home and fruit and flowers," Kuipers said. "That made me realise how special the supporters of Brighton are and I want to thank them for all the support they have given me.

"My wife has been magnificent. My mother came over from Holland to help us out as well, because I couldn't do anything."

Kuipers was allowed back home on the night of the crash, but it was another eight days before he returned to the training ground.

He said: "It was nice to get back because it takes your mind off it. For the first week I had to stay at home just to rest.

"It was really good to see my team-mates and it was kind of emotional as well, because when you are in a bad accident a lot of things go through your mind.

"I didn't think I was going to see them or see them that quickly. The first time I saw them I wasn't myself, because I was still in shock, but it has become much better over the last week and mentally I am back to my old self."

Some of the injuries suffered by Kuipers in the crash are only just beginning to surface and he has no idea when he will be fit enough to play again.

"I am just pleased I am able to start my recovery," he said. "I am not training fully, far from it really. I'm just doing a little bit of jogging and movement, trying to get my muscles going again.

"Malcolm Stuart (physio) has helped me a lot with massages and treatment to speed up my recovery.

"At the moment it's hard to target a particular game. I am just trying to get back as quickly as possible, but in this situation I have to be careful not to overdo it. Internal bruising needs time to come out.

"During my rehabilitation things have already come out that weren't there at first, so I have to take my time. I want to be back tomorrow, but Malcolm is keeping a close eye on me. For me it is all a bonus. The main thing is trying to get back fit as quickly as possible to get my career back on track."

Once he is fully recovered, Kuipers faces a fight to reclaim the No. 1 spot from Ben Roberts, but that is nothing compared to the terrifying challenge he has been through.

He is just glad to be alive.