Air ambulance gets second life-saving helicopter

Cornwall Air Ambulance pilots have collected a new helicopter from a production line in Italy.

The move comes as the charity announced it has about £197,000 left to raise of its £2.85m Heli2 Appeal target, launched in 2023.

The aircraft has now arrived in Gloucestershire from Milan, where teams of specialists are to give it a medical fit out.

The work will take several months to complete and bosses expect the helicopter to be fully operational by the summer.

The charity attended 1,064 missions in 2024, including 327 medical emergencies.

It said the new helicopter will be able to carry larger fuel loads meaning the team can carry out back-to-back missions, with additional equipment on board.

The aircraft will be equipped with a vision system, powerful searchlights and advanced mapping systems that enable it to fly at night when its other helicopter was being maintained.

Chief executive Tim Bunting said the arrival of the second aircraft was a "landmark moment" which would "boost the resilience and capability of our service".

"Ultimately, this will mean we'll be able to save even more lives for many years to come," he said.

The charity is appealing for people to help it reach the rest of its fundraising target to help the aircraft take to the skies.

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