THE lifesaving charity Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance has been shortlisted in two categories at this year’s Air Ambulance Awards of Excellence.

The finalists have been announced by the Association of Air Ambulances and the winners will be revealed at an awards ceremony next month.

Critical Care Paramedic (CCP) Neil Bizzell is shortlisted in the Air Ambulance Paramedic of the Year category and the air ambulance crew of Dr Jeremy Reid, CCP Leonie German, CCP Paul Owen and pilot Mario Carretta have been shortlisted in the Special Incident Award category.

Neil Bizzell became the newest member of the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance team when he joined in September last year.

He has created immersive educational days which are aimed at informing others of the capabilities and skills that Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance can provide, ensuring that the aircraft and crew are tasked appropriately.

The effects on this for patients has literally been life size - in the last year 52 patients who would not normally have benefitted from the team’s care have received treatment.

The incident which sees Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance become a finalist in the Special Incident Award category took place earlier this year when two motorcyclists collided head on.

The crew were tasked to the incident, which was at the bottom of a deep, narrow, heavily wooded quarry. The nearest and safest landing site was a field on the rim of the quarry approximately half a mile from the incident.

One patient suffered serious injuries and the other had immediate life-threatening injuries due to being struck in the throat by the motorcycle handlebar.

This patient was in a mortal state and without the organisation, motivation, teamwork and skills delivered by the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance team, he most certainly would have died.

Bill Sivewright, Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance chief executive officer, said: “We are extremely proud that our Critical Care Team have once again been recognised nationally for their outstanding work.

"Knowing how modest Neil Bizzell is, this is likely to come as a surprise to him but not to the rest of us. His commitment to patients and to the team is absolute and I believe that he is an example to us all.

"With regards to the Special Incident Award, it is without doubt the team who were on duty that day saved this patient’s life and the mission is an exemplar of air ambulance activity.”

A full list of categories and all those shortlisted as finalists in the 2016 Air Ambulance Awards of Excellence can be found at associationofairambulances.co.uk/news/70.

For more information on Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance go to dsairambulance.org.uk.