Wales Air Ambulance marks 24 years of its lifesaving service on St David’s Day

Wales Air Ambulance is celebrating 24 years of lifesaving service, having attended more than 52,000 missions since its launch on St David’s Day in 2001.

The charity, which operates four helicopters and a fleet of rapid response vehicles, has grown into one of Europe’s largest and most advanced air ambulance services.

Operating 24/7, the Wales Air Ambulance provides hospital-standard treatment at the scene of incidents, with highly skilled NHS consultants and critical care practitioners on board.

It works in partnership with the Emergency Medical Retrieval and Transfer Service (EMRTS) to ensure patients receive the best possible care and, if necessary, are transported directly to the most appropriate hospital.

Since introducing night-time flying in December 2020, the service has been able to reach even more people during emergencies.

The charity relies entirely on public donations, requiring £11.2 million annually to keep its helicopters and vehicles operational.

Dr Sue Barnes, Wales Air Ambulance’s Chief Executive, said: “We’re delighted to be celebrating our 24th anniversary of being there for the people of Wales when they need us most. We’re proud of how far we have come from having a single aircraft based at Swansea Airport to the four helicopters and rapid response vehicles we have across Wales.

“The Charity would like to say a huge ‘thank you’ to all its loyal supporters, its staff, volunteers, trustees, medics, pilots and allocators – past and present. Your passion and determination are the strong foundation upon which Wales Air Ambulance has been built. It’s because of you that we’re able to serve Wales and save lives 24/7.”

To mark the milestone, the charity has relaunched its Coffee and Cake fundraising event. Supporters are encouraged to host their own gatherings during March to help raise funds for the service.

For more information on how to get involved, visit www.walesairambulance.com/coffee-and-cake.