Air Ambulance flew 41 missions to Scilly in 2017

Cornwall Air Ambulance flew 41 missions to the Isles of Scilly last year.

These were among a total of 869 missions for 2017, the highest number in more than five years.

Of the 41 to Scilly, 25 were medical emergencies, nine were serious trauma injuries and seven were intra-hospital transfers.

Of these, eight were cardiac related, seven were serious falls, five were respiratory problems and three were neurological problems.

Twenty-five were residents of the islands, 13 were non-residents and three were unknown.

Scilly's 41 missions was the highest number in the region, followed by Bodmin on 38 and Newquay on 35.

It takes the Cornwall Air Ambulance MD902 Explorer helicopter just under 30 minutes to get to the Isles of Scilly, and an average of 12 to reach patients anywhere in mainland Cornwall.

The organisation receives no direct government funding or National Lottery grants and therefore relies on public support to raise the £3 million needed to keep the helicopter and crew flying each year.

Air Operations Officer Steve Garvey, who leads the team of critical care paramedics onboard Cornwall Air Ambulance, said: “Not one of those 869 missions could have been flown without donations from the people of Cornwall and beyond.

"Everyone who supports this charity should feel very proud of the fact they helped save a lot of people’s lives in 2017 and I truly hope they’ll continue to do so in 2018.”

You can donate to Cornwall Air Ambulance online via its website and by taking part in the Cornwall Air Ambulance Trust lottery, details of which can be found at www.cornwallairambulancetrust.org/lottery.