Air Ambulance to the Rescue: Cornwall’s Lifesaving Missions Top 1,000 in 2024

Cornwall Air Ambulance has revealed it was tasked to an impressive 1,064 missions in 2024, marking another challenging year for the lifesaving charity.

Trauma and Medical Emergencies Dominate Missions

The newly released figures show 445 incidents involved trauma-related emergencies, while 327 were medical emergencies, and 274 were in response to cardiac arrests. Additionally, the team completed 18 inter-hospital transfers, showcasing the critical role they play in the region’s healthcare network.

Five-Year-Old Airlifted After Collision

Among those assisted was five-year-old Jai Bosustow, who was airlifted after a road traffic collision in Porthleven last August. Jai suffered a head injury and a broken arm after being accidentally knocked off his scooter.

The Cornwall Air Ambulance crew treated Jai at the scene before airlifting him to hospital for further care. Thankfully, Jai has since made a good recovery.

Reflecting on the experience, Jai’s mum, Kizzy, said: “I will be forever grateful, because when you’re in that scary situation all you want is someone who knows what they’re doing and can help. I’ll be forever grateful for the charity, until you need it you don’t realise what an amazing thing it is to have.”

Record-High Emergency Calls in May

May saw the busiest month for the service, with 117 emergency calls recorded. Throughout the year, the critical care team delivered 19 blood transfusions to patients at the scene, further underscoring their lifesaving impact.

A Second Helicopter on the Horizon

Tim Bunting, Chief Executive at Cornwall Air Ambulance, acknowledged the achievements of 2024 while emphasising the importance of ongoing community support.

“2024 was another busy year for your charity, both in terms of mission numbers and the Heli2 Appeal. I want to thank every single person who has supported the appeal so far, we are getting incredibly close to reaching that £2.85million target to bring your second lifesaving helicopter to Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly,” Tim said.

“But we cannot do it without you, and we need your help with the final push. Together we can boost the resilience, capability and availability of our service, meaning we’ll be able to attend more missions by air and ultimately save even more lives across the county. It’s an extremely exciting time for us as we anticipate the arrival of your second helicopter.”

How You Can Help

The Heli2 Appeal is nearing its £2.85 million target, but support is still needed to make this ambitious goal a reality. Every donation brings Cornwall Air Ambulance closer to introducing its second helicopter, which will increase the availability of this vital service.

Help Cornwall Air Ambulance save more lives by contributing to the Heli2 Appeal. Visit their website for more information: Heli2 Appeal.