An Isle of Wight woman has thanked Hampshire and the Isle of Wight Air Ambulance Service for saving her life, on what is the charity's 14th anniversary.
71-year-old Linda, from Godshill, suffered a heart attack at her home, and had to be flown to the mainland for specialist treatment.
Linda said:
“The experience has made me realise just how much we need them. If you have a heart attack on the Isle of Wight, because they don’t do the required procedure here, you are reliant on the Air Ambulance to get you over to the mainland as quickly as possible.
"Had it not been for the Air Ambulance, I don’t think I would be here today. I just wish I could remember the faces of the lovely people on board the helicopter. Covid-19 aside, I'd love to be able to give them a big hug and say thank you very much.”
The specialist doctors, paramedics and pilots working on the front line have responded to over 700 people in desperate need of critical care this year alone.
And in April this year, the charity attended its 10,000th patient by air, when a young male who was involved in a road traffic collision near Ringwood, Hampshire, needed pre-hospital treatment.
HIOWAA Acting CEO, Sherie Williams Ellen, said:
“Over the last 14 years, with the backing of our fabulous supporters, we have worked tirelessly to provide the very best pre-hospital care to our patients. Be it husband or wife, mum or dad, son or daughter; whoever they are, every patient matters.
"Thank you to every single person who has donated over the past 14 years; I want every one of you to know what a vital role you have played in saving another life.”
It costs the charity, which receives no government funding, an average of £2,882 every time it is called out.
To mark its 14th birthday, the charity has shared a short film, urging supporters to ‘Look out for us so we can look out for you’.
To help keep the Charity on the front line and saving lives, visit www.hiowaa.org.