Air ambulance fundraiser finds himself at the heart of a 999 drama

A volunteer fundraiser for the air ambulance service found himself on the receiving end of an air drama this week.

Phil Cornford sprang into action when he spotted a doctor and paramedic of the Kent, Surrey & Sussex Air Ambulance - for which he fundraises - going through the back garden of his neighbour’s house in Haywards Heath.

Phil dashed outside and offered the medics a lift to the scene of a nearby road crash and helped them save vital minutes in treating an injured pedestrian.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

He said: “I heard the helicopter flying overhead so I went outside out of curiosity and saw the crew coming through the side gate of my neighbour’s house.

“They couldn’t find an access out of the field so I offered them a lift to the scene which probably saved about five minutes.

“They noticed my air ambulance car sticker and that’s when I told them I was a volunteer for the charity.”

The pedestrian was treated at the roadside by the doctor and paramedic before being taken to the Royal Sussex County Hospital in a land ambulance, accompanied by the helicopter crew.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Phil has been an air ambulance volunteer for two years and normally helps at fundraising events and store collections. Other roles include placing and collection boxes, cheque presentations, office administration and giving talks about the lifesaving work of the charity.