THE Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance is holding an event to celebrate 15 years of service.

The event will take place at the charity’s airbase in Andover from 10am to 12pm.

Since the air ambulance’s first flight on July 1, 2007, the doctors, paramedics, pilots and dispatch assistants who make up the charity’s Critical Care Team have been called out to more than 15,000 emergencies across the region and beyond.

One of those 15,000 patients was 32-year-old Claire Danson.

With her dream of becoming a professional triathlete in reach, Claire collided with a tractor during a routine cycle ride, leaving her paralysed from the waist down.

The air ambulance team attended and provided Claire with specialist treatment before flying her to hospital.

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Claire said: “You effectively wake up one day and your body is completely different to how you’ve ever known it.

“That can make you feel quite different about yourself.

“I had limited knowledge of the air ambulance before my accident, but me and my family know that I wouldn’t be alive today without them.”

15 years on from the air ambulance’s first flight, the crews on board are tasked to around four emergency missions every day and are able to provide advanced life-saving care usually found in a hospital emergency department.

One of the longest serving members of the team, Dr David Sutton, who has been flying with the charity from its outset, has praised the “amazing support” from the public who have kept them flying and saving lives.

Throughout the years, Dr Sutton has witnessed and treated almost every injury and illness imaginable, from an armed robbery in Chandler’s Ford, to performing open heart surgery in a patient’s house.

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While he is now hanging up his flight suit for good, Dr Sutton wanted to thank the public for their generosity, which has allowed him and his colleagues to carry out their life saving work, 365 days a year.

Dr Sutton said: “Quite simply, we would not have the service we do without the amazing support we have had from the public.

“Thanks to everyone over the years who has played their part.”

It costs the service, which receives no government funding, an average of £3,320 for every emergency mission.

Those who want to support the life-saving charity for its 15th birthday can donate via the website: www.hiowaa.org.

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