First air ambulance patient praises charity 25 years on

Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance is celebrating 25 years of saving lives

The first patient treated by Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance (DSAA) has said he would not have survived without the service as it marks its 25th anniversary.

Ken Duffield, from Dorset, was riding his motorcycle to work when he collided with a car and was sent hurtling 26m along the road.

He said the air ambulance took him to Dorset County Hospital within minutes, where he underwent three full-body blood transfusions.

"So many people including myself, are here because of the work they do. They are amazing," he said.

The charity's pilots reach patients often in remote locations, or by the roadside, and a clinical team can treat patients at the scenes of accidents.

Ken Duffield was the first patient treated by the charity 25 years ago

Mr Duffield said: "I lost so much blood, my family believe if I had been conveyed by land ambulance, I would not have survived.

"My right leg was broken at the knee and the femur and I was kept in hospital for six weeks, during which time my daughter Becca was born.

"Doctors managed to save my leg, but it took 12 operations and five years before it was fully functional.

"Our children have grown up knowing what happened to me and the importance of DSAA's work."

Last year DSAA attended 2,909 incidents, with each mission costing approximately £3,500.

Charles Hacket, chief executive of the charity, said the public's donations had taken it from "small beginnings to where we are today; providing pre-hospital critical care that no one imagined 25 years ago".

"This has only been possible because of consistent, regular commitment from our supporters," he said. "They have directly contributed to saving lives.

"Without that support, we wouldn't be where we are today and wouldn't be able to do more tomorrow for that, we are incredibly grateful."