Air ambulance charity has 'busiest May on record'

The charity said it was called to 117 missions

An air ambulance service had its busiest May on record, bosses say.

Cornwall Air Ambulance said it was tasked to 117 missions, which it said was a rise of about 20% compared to May 2023.

Air operations officer Steve Garvey said it was called to a range of trauma and medical-related incidents, including 26 cardiac arrests and 11 road traffic collisions.

He said the service was also called to three inter-hospital transfers and 10 taskings to the Isles of Scilly.

'Lifesaving difference'

Mr Garvey said a rise in emergency calls had put more pressure for the air crew and a higher demand on aircraft.

It comes as the charity reaches the halfway point in its Heli2 appeal.

The appeal aimed to raise £2.85m to help secure a second AW169 helicopter for the people of Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, the charity said.

Chief executive officer Tim Bunting said the organisation was "incredibly grateful" to those who have donated towards the appeal and they had been "making a lifesaving difference".

“Nobody ever expects to need the help of Cornwall Air Ambulance, but we are your charity, and we are here for you if you should ever need us," he said.