300 people helped by Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance last year (From Dorset Echo)

300 people helped by Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance last year

11:00am Monday 11th February 2013 in News By Echo Reporter

NEARLY 300 people in distress across the county were helped by the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance last year.

The charity released statistics this week showing that they attended 615 incidents over the two counties, including 280 medical emergencies, 125 road traffic incidents, and 96 sporting or leisure incidents, of which nearly half were equestrian.

Their busiest day of the week was a Saturday, and the busiest month was August with 72 call-outs.

They have now flown some 9,150 missions since the service was launched in March 2000. It costs around £4,000 a day to keep the helicopter flying, and the charity receives no direct government or Lottery funding.

Chief executive officer Bill Sivewright said: “We have helped to save countless lives over the years because we can reach any part of the two counties in 19 minutes and we know that patients who receive treatment within the first hour have a much better chance of survival.

“The funds raised by the people of Dorset and Somerset have been vital to delivering the service and we are grateful to them.”

The next major fundraising event will be the third annual Coast to Coast cycle ride between Watchet in Somerset and West Bay in Dorset, on May 19.

Visit dsairambulance.org.uk.