The Great Western Air Ambulance Charity (GWAAC) is experiencing unprecedented demand for its critical emergency services in 2025. From January 1 to June 30, the specialist air ambulance crew responded to 1,181 life-threatening emergencies across Bristol, Gloucestershire, Bath and North East Somerset, South Gloucestershire, North Somerset, and parts of Wiltshire. This figure surpasses last year’s record and highlights the growing need for their vital intervention.
Tim Ross-Smith, GWAAC’s operations officer, emphasizes the human impact behind the numbers: “Each call represents someone facing the hardest day of their life, and our crew often provides their last hope. With advanced skills and hospital-level equipment, they make a real difference in survival and recovery, keeping families together. None of this would be possible without public generosity.”
GWAAC’s critical care team includes highly trained doctors, advanced clinical practitioners, and specialist paramedics who respond to an average of six emergencies daily. Despite public recognition for the iconic lime green and blue helicopter, three-quarters of missions this year have been completed using specially equipped critical care cars carrying the same expert team and equipment.
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Cardiac arrests and road traffic collisions remain leading emergencies, accounting for 22% and 15% of call-outs respectively. Bristol and Gloucestershire continue to be the busiest regions, making up 60% of GWAAC’s missions.
Each mission costs approximately £2,200, reflecting the charity’s commitment to bringing emergency hospital care directly to those in need. Operating without government funding for daily operations, GWAAC depends wholly on donations and fundraising efforts.
To support this life-saving work, GWAAC invites the public to participate in their Summer Raffle and annual comedy night, Heli Laughs. The Summer Raffle offers a grand prize of £2,500 with tickets available online or at GWAAC’s shops for just £1 each. Heli Laughs returns on Monday, July 21, at the Bristol Old Vic, headlined by comedian Angela Barnes and hosted by local Stuart Goldsmith, with performances by Laura Lexx, Celya AB, Jordan Brookes, Jin Hao Li, and Dani Johns. Tickets start at £20 and are available via gwaac.com/comedy.
Your support makes all the difference in helping GWAAC continue to save lives across the region.