East Anglian Air Ambulance searching for first ever patient to mark 20th anniversary
The charity is hoping to track down its first ever patient to celebrate 20 years in the sky
Members of the public are being asked to help the East Anglian Air Ambulance (EAAA) track down its first ever patient.
The little that is known about the first mission is that it took flight from Norwich Airport at 4pm on Friday 9 February 2001 and returned 55 minutes later.
It indicates the patient was in the Norfolk area but not transferred to hospital via air ambulance.
The charity, which could only afford to fly on Fridays when it first started, is hoping to track down the patient to find out how the last 20 years has treated them.
CEO Patrick Peal said: "Does anybody remember seeing a little black and silver helicopter 20 years ago landing somewhere near you on a Friday in February? because we would love to hear from you.
"We'd love to share their story with the wider world."
Within just six months of the charity's first flight, EAAA began flying seven days a week to provide critical care to people across the region.
In just a few months' time though, it will achieve its ambition of flying 24/7 from Norwich Airport.
Patrick added: "Flying 24/7 will make the helicopter emergency medical service (HEMS) available to even more people each year and will be a great step forward. This goal has been slightly delayed by the pandemic, but we’re really close now and that’s really exciting for our teams.
"But without the people that support us, none of this would have been possible. We need to raise £15 million a year to deliver and develop the charity."
EAAA's doctor and critical care paramedic teams are currently available 24/7 by rapid response vehicle on land.