Air ambulance service expands

The north Wales helicopter will be on standby seven days a week

North Wales has received a welcome boost with the news that the area's air ambulance is to operate seven days a week.

From next Monday the helicopter, launched in the summer, will be a permanent 'guardian angel' in the skies of North Wales, thanks to £1.5 million raised in donations.

In partnership with the Welsh Ambulance Service NHS Trust, the Wales Air Ambulance has been funding the helicopter from Caernarfon airport since 1 July 2003, in addition to another service operating from Swansea.

The North Wales Air Ambulance had previously been on standby for only five days a week.

Much of the impetus for the second air ambulance came from a community in the village of Llanbedr, in Ardudwy.

The Ardudwy group was set up by the mother and fiancée of a 26-year-old man killed in a car crash near Harlech in Gwynedd last year.

Kieron Wilkes died at the site of the accident, which was 50 miles away from Ysbyty Gwynedd in Bangor.

We cannot stress enough how every penny will count for us to keep flying in the future Angela Hughes, Wales Air Ambulance

His fiancée Nia Evans was taken to hospital with severe spinal injuries by police helicopter.

The group decided to form their own charity following the accident and joined forces with the Wales Air Ambulance after a meeting in Swansea.

They have raised tens of thousands of pounds for the appeal through fundraising events.

Kieron's mother Sandra Wilkes welcomed the news of the expanded service, adding: "To us as a family it is nice that out of such a tragedy, something good has come out of it."

During August, the emergency helicopter code named Heli-med 61, was one of the busiest air ambulances in the UK and it has flown over 220 missions to date.

The helicopter attends road accidents and helps rescue injured climbers.

Angela Hughes, the charity's general manager, said: "The generosity of the people of Wales has driven our success.

"It is brilliant to be able to demonstrate to those supporting us where their much-needed fundraising efforts are going.

"We cannot stress enough how every penny will count for us to keep flying in the future."

Anyone who wants to help the Wales Air Ambulance can contact 01352 755422.