Air ambulance sent to local road crash

9:44am Friday 5th October 2007

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A MAN who suffered minor head injuries in a road accident in Tadley had to be taken to Basingstoke hospital by air ambulance because no other ambulance was close enough.

The Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance was mobilised from its base in Thruxton, near Andover, to attend the incident in Southdown Road, Tadley, early on Monday afternoon.

A first responder from the Hampshire division of South Central Ambulance Service was also sent to the scene.

The injured man, who is in his 20s, was then taken to Basingstoke hospital by the air ambulance.

The Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance Charity was set up in 2005, but the air ambulance only became operational in July this year.

It costs more than £2,000 per day to operate.

Michelle Ullett, press officer at South Central Ambulance Service, said: "The air ambulance was the nearest available resource at the time."

The Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance Charity relies solely on voluntary donations and needs to raise more than £65,000 per month.