The Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance (HIOWAA) has commemorated helping thousands of people after completing its 10,000th mission yesterday afternoon.

A HIOWAA team responded to a traffic accident in Ringwood as the milestone flight, providing treatment to an injured man until he could be transferred to hospital by road.

The charity’s acting chief executive, Sherie Williams Ellen, said that achieving the goal was “an incredible landmark” and thanked crews for their work.

HIOWAA, whose helicopter is based at Thruxton airfield near Andover, conducts livesaving missions to rapidly get to the scene of serious incidents and medical emergencies.

The most common incidents last year included cardiac arrests, road traffic collisions and medical incidents, such as strokes, with the helicopter able to reach any area of Hampshire in 15 minutes, and the Isle of Wight within 20.

It also provides its own Critical Care Team Vehicles to attend incidents where a helicopter couldn’t land. The air ambulance needs a space the size of a tennis court to be able to land safely.

Reflecting on the 10,000th mission, Sherie said: “10,000 missions by air is an incredible landmark, and being a lifeline to so many people is something we take great pride in.

“However, I am acutely aware that we are only called out to the most seriously ill and injured people in our community, so for many of those patients it will have been the toughest day of their life.”

“Thanks to the specialist skills, quick response and professionalism of our clinicians, we’ve given many of our patients the very best chance of survival. Children still have their parents; husbands, wives and partners remain side-by-side; friends and loved ones can continue to be there for one another, which is why we do what we do.

“Integral to all of this are our dedicated donors and supporters. Their commitment, passion and love for the Charity enable us to respond to so many people in their hour of need.”

The charity is calling for supporters to donate to ensure it can respond to the next 10,000 critically ill and injured patients, with the charity needing £15,000 a day to operate. For instance, £10 can buy 100 metres of suction tubing, while £50 can buy 12 precise skin staplers for more serious incidents.

To learn more, and donate, visit: www.hiowaa.org/donate