Template:Courier-OCT-25-16

AIR AMBULANCE DROPS IN ON THE REC

An unexpected and exciting visit from a helicopter on Claygate Recreation Ground caused heads to turn and traffic to stop as it landed and took off.

The Kent Surrey and Sussex Air Ambulance had been called to an emergency in the village but was later stood down when an earth-bound ambulance took over.

It gave the team of pilots and medics a few moments to talk to residents about their work and the helicopter, which is packed with medical equipment enabling the travelling doctor and paramedic to perform general anaesthetics, blood transfusions, and even open heart surgery.

The Air Ambulance Charity is funded largely by donations and fundraising, and serves the five million people living in Kent, Surrey and Sussex, and the 90 million passing through the region each year. It's one of the largest and busiest air ambulance charities in the UK, covering 3,500 square miles, including some of the country's busiest road networks, most densely populated towns and cities, and extensive coastline and countryside.

Marwa El-Zanfaly, an emergency medical consultant and the team's doctor, pictured above, left, explained: "The whole idea is that we're bringing the hospital to the patient so that they start their care straight away. And we try to treat people outside the helicopter - it's a bit cramped inside. And when you're flying, it's not always super smooth-so not ideal when you've got a scalpel in your hand."

The team was then abruptly called away to another emergency in Fleet, taking off from the Rec and waving to onlookers on the ground. To support the valuable work of KSS Air Ambulance, visit aakss.org.uk.