Wessex FM Supports the Dorset & Somerset Air Ambulance

We have been behind the scenes with some of the heroes in our skies.

Morning presenter Steve Bulley and Matt Tozer from Wessex FM News went to find out more about the life saving work of the charity that runs solely on donations.

The Air Ambulance need to raise 1.4 million pounds a year to keep the aircraft up in the air.

Many people still do not realise that they receive no funding from the Government or the National Lottery and rely solely on the generosity of the general public to keep flying.

Since launching in 2000 they have attended literally thousands of life saving missions.  On average they are deployed 3-4 times per day, but during the summer this can increase up to 8.

They can be anywhere within the two counties in under 19 minutes of receiving an emergency call, making their service the ideal choice in life-threatening or time-critical situations.

Their Helicopter (Eurocopter 135) is based at Henstridge Airfield, just off the A30 between  Sherborne and Shaftesbury and it flies comfortably at 150mph. A key element of the Air Ambulance is that it can take patients direct to an appropriate specialist hospital that will meet the patients’ clinical needs.

F1 racing driver Jenson Button, who is from Frome in Somerset, is a Patron of the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance and has been since its formation 11 years ago.

To find out more about the charity and how to donate CLICK HERE.

To see a gallery of when we went to meet the team CLICK HERE.

There will be a Charity Dance held at the Weymouth Pavilion Ocean Room on April 8th to raise money for the Air Ambulance. Featuring the magnificent "USA Motown Show" and a disco, the night starts at 8pm. Tickets are £25 including a buffet.

To purchase tickets call the Weymouth Pavilion Box Office or CLICK HERE

Paramedic Mark Williams tells us about a normal day on the job:

Pilot Max Hoskins tells us more about the jobs they cover:

Paramedic Mike Hoskins talks us through some of the kit they carry on the helicopter:

Air Ambulance fund-raising co-ordinator Annette Plaistow-Trapaud tells us more about the charity:

Whilst we are at the base an emergency calls comes in and the team head out. Annette tells us what the guys are doing: