Air Ambulance supporters celebrate 10th anniversary

More than 1,200 people attended a 10th birthday party for the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance (DSAA) on Saturday, June 12.

The event was held at the DSAA airbase in Henstridge, between Sherborne and Shaftesbury, in Dorset, to celebrate 10 years since the Air Ambulance was launched.

In that time, the yellow livery helicopter has been scrambled to more than 7,300 emergencies and many lives have been saved by the speed at which casualties have reached hospital.

The event was organised as a way for the Charity to give something back to the people of Somerset and Dorset who have supported it over the past 10 years, and to help them learn more about the life-saving work of the Air Ambulance.

Many of the guests had themselves previously been saved by the Air Ambulance, or had loved ones or friends who had been helped by the Charity.

Among them was Ken Duffield, who was the first person ever to be airlifted to hospital by the DSAA, shortly before it was officially launched at a ceremony in Sherborne Castle, Dorset, in March, 2000.

Mr Duffield, who now lives in Dorchester, told guests at the celebratory event how he would never have seen his daughter and she would not have known their father had it not been for the Air Ambulance, as his wife was eight months pregnant at the time of his motorcycle accident.

Nearly £5,000 was raised for the Charity from an auction of items given by Formula 1 world champion Jenson Button and others, and also from a raffle on the day.

Jenson, who is an Air Ambulance patron and who comes from Frome, Somerset, donated a scale model of his championship-winning Brawn GP racing car, a baseball cap, and a calendar, all signed by him.

Guests were treated to a hog roast buffet, followed by strawberries and cream and tea and cakes.

They were entertained with a stunning aerial display by the Yak aerobatic team, a model aircraft display by Wincanton Falcons, the Snap Dragon Majorettes, and falconry by Alan Gates.

In addition, the Air Ambulance staged a mock emergency incident in which two ‘patients’ were airlifted from the scene of a two-car crash.

Police officers from the Dorset Constabulary attended as if it was a real-life incident, followed by Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue crews from Yeovil and Wells stations, and paramedics from the South Western Ambulance Services NHS Trust.

They treated the incident exactly as they would had the crash actually occurred, right down to the procedures administered by paramedics on a male driver who lost a leg and suffered other injuries in the collision.

DSAA charity manager Charlotte Routley said: “We were delighted to see so many of our friends and ex-patients who were able to come along on Saturday and make it a really fantastic day for everybody.

“As well as celebrating with many of the people whom we have helped over the years, we also reflected on the lives which could not be saved.

“I think the event brought us even closer to the people of Dorset and Somerset whom we help and who in return support us with fund-raising all year round.”

The Air Ambulance does not receive any funding from the Government or the National Lottery, so the Charity has to raise all of the £3,800 per day cost of keeping its helicopter flying.

More information about the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance can be found by visiting www.dorsetandsomersetairambulance.org.uk or by emailing info@dorsetandsomersetairambulance.org.uk or calling 01823 669604.