Cornwall Air Ambulance has busiest May on record
The charity were tasked to 117 missions
Cornwall Air Ambulance have had the busiest May on record, responding to 117 missions.
The charity warn they're seeing a rise in emergency calls and growing pressure on aircrew.
Figures from the charity show that is a rise in taskings of almost 20% compared to May in 2023.
Steve Garvey, Air Operations Officer, said: "May was our busiest month of the year so far, our missions included a range of trauma and medical related incidents including 26 cardiac arrests, 11 road traffic collisions, three inter-hospital transfers and 10 taskings to the Isles of Scilly alone.
"A rise in emergency calls means a growing pressure on our aircrew, with more back-to-back missions, as well as higher demand on our aircraft."
Cornwall Air Ambulance are continuing to fundraise for a second AW169 helicopter by the end of the year as part of their Heli2 Appeal, which has recently passed the £1million mark.
Owning an additional high-specification aircraft for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, which benefits from high weight and fuel capacities, a large amount of space for kit and crew, and the ability for HEMS operations at night, will mean that the crew are always able to respond on the best suited helicopter when online and attend more missions by air.
Karen Hurn, Head of Fundraising and Philanthropy, added: "This is a fantastic milestone to reach halfway through the year and we are incredibly grateful to everyone who has donated so far. There is still a long way to go to hit our £2.85m target and there are so many different ways that you can get involved, from becoming a Heli2 Hero and having your name featured on the second helicopter, to playing our BIG Heli2 Raffle or even funding a mission. By supporting the Heli2 Appeal, in whatever way you choose, you really can make a lifesaving difference."
With less than six months left of the appeal year, there is still a long way to go to reach the £2.85million Heli2 target.
Tim Bunting, Chief Executive, said: "Cornwall Air Ambulance is your charity, we’re here for you if you should ever need us. And you can help us be there for more people across Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly for years to come. Purchasing a second AW169 helicopter will massively improve the versatility and capability of our service, putting us at the forefront of advanced critical care. Your support will help us to save even more lives."
There's more information about the Heli2 Appeal on the Cornwall Air Ambulance website.