Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance reaches milestone

The charity has responded to its 14,000th helicopter mission since its first flight in 2007.

When combined with emergency response vehicle callouts, the service has attended more than 21,000 emergencies in total.

Nick Gray, paramedic clinical lead with Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance, said: "Our sincere thanks to everyone who supports this charity.

"Your kindness and passion ensures my colleagues and I are ready to provide emergency critical care to those who need it.

Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance has completed its 14,000th flight. (Image: Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance) "Many of our patients and their friends and families are only together now because of the exceptional generosity of the people who have supported us since our first flight in 2007."

The 14,000th helicopter flight took place on Tuesday, June 10, when the crew was dispatched to an incident in Milford on Sea.

The helicopter launched from Queen Alexandra Hospital in Portsmouth following an earlier callout.

At the scene, the team stabilised the patient, who was then taken to hospital by road.

The doctor-paramedic crew continued to deliver critical care en route, working alongside colleagues from South Central Ambulance Service.

Among those helped by the air ambulance is Matt Poole, 47, who was airlifted to hospital after a motorcycle crash on the A339 north of Basingstoke in 2022.

Matt was airlifted to hospital after a motorcycle crash in 2021. (Image: Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance) Matt suffered a catalogue of breaks, dislocations and other serious injuries, from his shoulders to his toes, when he was thrown 30 metres from his bike.

Matt said: "I was a broken mess in a field. Because of the work they did I’m up, I’m walking and I’m better. I’m alive.

"To everyone who supports this service: I want to thank you for being so selfless. The service you keep going is life-saving. I am proof of that."

The charity relies entirely on public donations to continue its work, having already responded to more than 1,000 emergencies in 2025.

Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance is currently raising funds for its airbase relocation appeal, Operation Airbase.

The move to a new site near Southampton Airport is expected to improve response times across the region.

So far, the charity has raised £1.5m toward its £3.6m target.