AN AIR ambulance service was called to Salisbury around once a week last year to save and support people in emergencies.

From horse riding incidents to car crashes, Wiltshire Air Ambulance took part in 68 missions in and around Salisbury in 2018, which is equivalent to the critical care team being called out on average every five days.

Across Wiltshire the charity undertook 1,103 cases which is 228 more than 2017 - 494 missions being dealt with using the charity's helicopter and 609 completed on ground using rapid response cars.

The charity has been in action for more then 28 years, and call outs across the county last year included 248 cardiac emergencies (almost one in four of the total incidents), 220 road traffic collisions, and 62 sport accidents.

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David Philpott, chief executive of Wiltshire Air Ambulance, said: “The call out figures for 2018 show there was an increased demand for our essential lifesaving service.

"When our helicopter is unable to fly our critical care paramedics are available to respond to medical emergencies in rapid response vehicles.

"These vehicles have the same specialist medical equipment that is on-board our helicopter."

The charity announced last week that its annual costs has risen by 15 per cent, meaning £10,000 must be raised daily to keep the services in operation.

Mr Philpott added: “We are only able to keep saving lives thanks to the generosity of the public and businesses who make donations."

To support Wiltshire Air Ambulance contact the charity team on 01225 300536 or email: hello@wiltshireairambulance.co.uk