Wiltshire Air Ambulance

NIGHT TIME HEMS
Male STROKE patient with sudden onset. Patient flown to John Radcliffe Hospital Oxford, (24 hour CT scanner), for specialist treatment. Specialist team awaiting our arrival.

3 vehicle Road Traffic Collision; coach v. 2 x cars. Young male with puncture wound to head with substantial blood loss, and diminishing level of consciousness. Patient stopped breathing in helicopter on route to the Royal United Hospital. Assisted ventilations, breathing returned, ongoing medical intervention throughout flight. Trauma team at RUH contacted and awaiting our arrival.

Male fallen 15ft from tree sustaining a back injury. Pain relieving medication given and patient airlifted to the Royal United Hospital.

Motorcyclist v. lamp post at high speed. Bilateral, complicated, open fractures with extensive tissue damage to legs. BASIC Dr at scene, medication administered to sedate patient and pain relief to allow both legs to be reset. Patient airlifted to the Royal United Hospital with ongoing medical intervention throughout flight.

Road Traffic Collision involving elderly male into shallow ditch. Initially confused and with diminished level of consciousness; caused by a medical cardiac problem. ECG, observations and vascular access obtained, patient airlifted to the Great Western Hospital in Swindon.

Female fallen from standing in garden, hitting greenhouse. Glass laceration to left flank, with shard having penetrated subcutaneously into patient's back. Injuries dressed and IV access obtained, patient airlifted to Royal United Hospital Bath with ongoing treatment throughout.

Male patient fell from bicycle not able to weight bear; left leg / hip fracture, leg splinted and pain relief administered before airlifted to Royal United Hospital.

Paragliding incident at Westbury. Pilot hit hillside at approx 30mph. Pain experienced in hip and back. Full spinal immobilisation and airlifted to Royal United Hospital.

Report of criminal damage in progress. Group of youths located and officers directed to location. Group confirmed as those responsible. All details obtained for further action by local policing team.

Known offender wanted for offence of GBH and other offences, sighted by community support officer but made off. Offender located and monitored from the air and was detained.

Requested to assist with suicidal male missing from hospital. Search commenced, male located in field near M4, units updated and directed to location where male was detained.

Self tasked to report of two males stealing machinery from a farm. Van made off driving through a fence making off across country. WH99 First at scene, located transit being driven on a track. Offenders stopped on seeing helicopter and ground units talked into location. Metal manhole covers located in rear of vehicle together with other items that had been thrown out of the vehicle. Two males arrested for theft.

A small selection of air ambulance incidents attended during April:

Patient head butted by sheep, laceration to forehead, with high probability of head fracture, patient experiencing neck pain. Full spinal immobilisation together with pain relieving medication given. Patient flown to Royal United Hospital in Bath.

Diverted from police task in Swindon to entrapment road traffic collision in Warminster. On arrival patient being extricated from vehicle. High speed impact into building. Driver with extensive facial injuries and diminished level of consciousness. Airlifted to Frenchay with full spinal immobilisation, IV access, fluids and ongoing medical intervention throughout the flight.

Young male fallen from roof in centre of village close to Devizes. Due to location and unlikely event of helicopter being able to land at location, Paramedic from Air Support Unit responded in unit vehicle. Arriving first at scene, full medical assistance given to male who, initially, had been unconscious now complaining of back pain. Full spinal immobilisation carried out, ambulance crew arrived and transported patient to helipad. Patient then conveyed by helicopter with father to Great Western Hospital, with ongoing medical observation.

Rugby Player with open fracture to lower leg. Pain relief given, wound dressed, traction and splint applied, further pain relief given on route, patient flown to Royal United Hospital.

2 vehicle road traffic collision entrapment high speed impact. Male patient in vehicle barrel rolled over top of other vehicle coming to rest on its side. Patient trapped for 45 minutes with head injury, complaining of pain in both arms. Drug therapy given, full spinal immobilisation carried out and airlifted to Frenchay.

Patient trampled by herds of cows complaining of pain in chest, arms, abdomen and back. Full spinal immobilisation carried out, patient flown to Royal United Hospital, monitored throughout.

Patient had gas cylinder explode whilst lighting a fire. Our attendance requested by Emergency Care Practitioner in attendance, blistering to both legs and arms patient in severe pain. Pain relief and full monitoring on route to Salisbury District Hospital.

Whilst airborne report of two males pushing shopping trolley full of lead. Males quickly located by helicopter, and location given. On arrival of units to scene, males detained, property recovered and both arrested on suspicion of theft.

Ground units including ambulance and fire service having difficulty locating Road Traffic Collision due to scant details given to Ambulance Communications. RTC located in different town to that given. Emergency services directed to scene and on their arrival were able confirmed minor injuries only. Therefore helicopter returned to base as not required in its Air Ambulance role.

Self tasked to male believed to be riding stolen motorcycle. WH99 First at scene, located male and commenced video of incident. Male made off and threw motorcycle into a river. Offender than ran into a nearby housing estate entering a house. Containment of house until arrival of ground units, whereupon search of house made, male confirmed by WH99 as offender and arrested.

Self tasked to theft in progress. One suspect detained others believed to be on rooftop. Thermal Image search commenced, heat source located and officers directed to location. 2 further suspects located. Large quantity of lead removed from rooftop. All arrested for theft.

Report of alarm activation at a garage. On route confirmed burglary in progress. Vehicle located and stopped by ground unit. Aerial support and containment provided. All six arrested on suspicion of burglary.

A small selection of air ambulance incidents attended during March:

NIGHT TIME HEMS
Male in his 40's in cardiac arrest. Requested by land ambulance to assist. Full treatment and airway management given and airlifted to Great Western Hospital.

2 vehicle road traffic collision. Female involved and complaining of instant neck pain with numbness in hands. Airlifted to Salisbury District Hospital with full spinal immobilisation carried out.

Young male fitting. Full medical intervention carried out. Male regained consciousness complaining of frontal head pain, with a high temperature. Airlifted to Royal United Hospital Bath.

NIGHT TIME HEMS
Road traffic collision involving female motorcyclist, mid 20's. Patient hit windscreen of car and landed 20ft from impact. Patient full spinal immobilisation at scene, with fracture to pelvis and injuries to legs. Airlifted to Great Western Hospital Swindon with fluid therapy, and continuation of treatment on route.

Fall. Male fallen in bathroom at home injuring neck. Complaining of back pain with pins and needles in arms and legs. Full spinal immobilisation, drug therapy and continuation of medical care given on route and airlifted to Salisbury District Hospital.

Horse rider. Female fallen from bucking horse, horse then stood on her back. Discomfort to coccyx area. Full spinal immobilisation carried out and patient airlifted to Salisbury District Hospital.

Body boarding. Male body boarding on tarmac track could not stop and went feet first between a barrier and protection bail. Pain to back and full spinal immobilisation, drug therapy and full medical treatment given on route to Salisbury District Hospital.

Ambulance engine fire. Requested to assist colleagues as vehicle broken down. Patient on board very unwell with episodes of convulsions. Airlifted to Royal United Hospital in Bath.

POLICE TASKS
Requested to assist with missing child. Daylight and thermal image camera used during search. Male and child located waving at aircraft found to be the missing child safe and well.

Reports of a female having run away from home address taking pills and stating she wanted to kill herself. Female fitting description viewed on daylight camera, police ground units directed to location and confirmed it was the missing female safe and well.

Report of male having made off from the scene of a road traffic collision. Male fitting description found walking along a track. Ground units directed to location and male arrested for road side alcohol.

Reports of two males possibly stealing cable. Given various locations to search and after a short while two persons seen in a field running along field boundary and out onto a road before changing direction and going back in the opposite direction. Vehicle seen to stop close to persons and both viewed getting into rear seats. Vehicle then followed by helicopter where it was stopped by a dog handler and all four persons on board arrested for various offences.

Aircraft called out to a 2 vehicle road traffic collision, (RTC), persons trapped. At scene, car driver was trapped by his legs and had a very large head injury with diminished level of consciousness. Patient had obvious fractures to legs and arms. Full medical treatment and spinal immobilisation was carried out before being flown to Frenchay hospital.

Later the same day, the helicopter responded to another 2 vehicle (RTC), again persons trapped with car on fire. Helicopter at scene within 6 mins. Dr at scene performing CPR on patient. Despite extensive efforts the patient was pronounced dead.

Aircraft called out to horse riding incident, horse had reared up and fell on patient, landing on pelvic area. Patient heard loud crack from his left hip area. Patient received pain relief and spinal immobilisation at scene. Patient was airlifted to Salisbury District Hospital with a fracture to hip/pelvis.

NIGHT TIME HEMS
Requested to attend military accident, male fallen from lorry onto head. Patient complaining of neck and back pain. Full spinal immobilisation carried out and patient airlifted to Salisbury District Hospital.

NIGHT TIME HEMS
Requested by land ambulance to a Female convulsing. Full drug therapy and airway management carried out, patient airlifted to Great Western Hospital. Patient monitored throughout.

Called to RTC involving young male child knocked off of push bike. High suspicion of fracture to leg, patient given pain relief, spinally immobilised and leg splinted. Patient flown to Royal United Hospital and monitored throughout.

NIGHT TIME HEMS
Request from rapid response vehicle (RRV) paramedic, to convey patient suffering with severe life threatening asthma. Unfortunately there were no ground ambulance available to transport patient at the time. As one of only two air ambulances in the country able to carry out night time work, we were able to assist and fly patient to Salisbury District Hospital.

A small selection of police tasks carried out during February:

Called to locate suicidal female threatening to self harm. After an extensive search a heat source was located using thermal imaging camera. Ground units were talked into the location and heat source was found to be the missing female. After being checked by ambulance staff, the female was taken to a place of safety.

Request by firearms unit to provide over-head containment at a house, reports of firearms inside building. Search carried out and person subsequently arrested.

Whilst over head town West Wiltshire, report of males acting suspiciously possibly dealing drugs. One male detained and arrested at scene, further male seen running from incident carrying bag. Containment provided and units directed to location. Male located hiding in garden shed. Male arrested on suspicion of theft.

Air Support Unit paramedic on rapid response vehicle at scene of 85 year old male fallen in driveway. Pt cold and in considerable pain with upper leg fracture. Pain relief and fluid therapy given. WH99 requested to assist; on arrival patient flown to Great Western Hospital in Swindon.

Road traffic collision, car versus cyclist, high speed impact. Patient unconscious medical intervention at scene prior to rapid extrication to Royal United Hospital.

Horse rider thrown from horse, unresponsive for three minutes having landed on head. No obvious injuries noted. Patient airlifted to Royal United Hospital.

NIGHT TIME HEMS: Aircraft self tasked to reports of a pedestrian who had been struck by a car. We landed at Clarendon School in Trowbridge one of our designated landing sites at night. The patient sustained head and spinal injuries. We loaded the patient into the aircraft and he was flown within eight minutes to an awaiting trauma team at Frenchay Hospital in Bristol.

NIGHT TIME HEMS: Initial report of a four month old not breathing. Overhead of scene, update from 'Communications' that situation not as serious as first believed, crew arrival at scene and happy to deal.

Patient playing rugby received high tackle. Instant pain to right side and burning pain down side of neck. Full spinal immobilisation and flown to Royal United Hospital.

Vehicle overturned north of County, five persons made off from vehicle. Area search commenced. Four persons located ground units talked into location. Person arrested for taking vehicle without consent and road side alcohol.

Aircraft requested to assist with flood planning, as a result of heavy rain all details and observations passed to communications.

Reports of persons stealing lead made off on quad bike, whilst enroute the bike was located by ground unit with engine still running. Thermal image search of the area made and two persons located in trees, units directed to location and two arrested.

West Wiltshire area, 3 vehicle road traffic collision, one of which high speed into tree. Patient extensive de-acceleration injuries and in cardiac arrest. Extensive treatment and procedures carried out before being flown to Salisbury District Hospital.

South Wiltshire area, female attacked by large dog sustaining numerous bite wounds. Patient lying injured for over an hour before alarm was raised, patient very hypothermic, flown to Salisbury District Hospital.

Police task at night-time in Wootton Bassett. Two persons decamped from car failing to stop for police units. Driver detained by ground units our assistance requested to search for passenger. Search commenced using thermal camera with offender located. Police ground units talked into location by police air observer. Male arrested.

Requested by rapid response unit at Westbury White Horse, to horserider sustaining kick to lower leg by horse whilst riding another! Patient very fearful of flying but with a likely fracture and being hypothermic was brave enough to accept a rapid trip to the Royal Unit Hospital in Bath!

Our ability to fly at night meant we were able to convey an unconscious, serious ill female who had fallen down a flight of stairs. With an extensive head injury we were able to fly her direct to the specialist neurological unit at Frenchay hospital.

Requested on a police task with reports of a pursuit involving a BMW car failing to stop on M4. Overhead of vehicle we were able to monitor using our camera equipment and provide police units on the ground location information. The vehicle headed onto the M32 towards Bristol where it was involved in a collision. The driver then 'decamped' from the vehicle before being detained by police officers. Video evidence was captured throughout.

Requested by ground units to a female having slipped down an embankment whilst out walking in the Salisbury area. Sustaining a fracture to her leg she was in considerable pain and hypothermic. Due to her location, the ground ambulance was unable to get within half a mile of the incident. Patient was given pain killing drugs at scene and airlifted to Salisbury District Hospital.

Requested to scene of an air accident, male fallen 30' whilst flying a Paramotor. Patient complaining of immediate back pain and loss of sensation from waist down. Treated at scene and flown to Frenchay.

Requested to attend high speed 2 vehicle road traffic collision. Massive intrusion into the car compartment, one patient in cardiac arrest the other having such extensive injuries they were incompatible with life.

Called to air accident involving a glider near Swindon. Patient initially trapped in wreckage, released and having received treatment by paramedics at scene was flown to Great Western Hospital with injuries to lower legs.

West Wiltshire area, young male fallen from scrambler motorbike, complaining of abdominal pain. Ground ambulance at scene requesting paramedic assistance to deliver stronger pain relief. WH99 landed at scene to facilitate. With a splenic rupture considered, patient was airlifted to Salisbury District Hospital.

WH99 first at scene to Golf course near Marlborough. Report of patient collapsed with cardiac history. Treatment and diagmostic equipment used at scene prior to patient being airlifted to Great Western Hospital for further tests.

Called to North Wiltshire area to rugby player tackled with pain to neck and back. Spinal immobilisation and treatment provided prior to airlift to Royal United Hospital Bath.

Tasked to male fallen 22' from tree onto concrete, pain to back and leg. Spinal immobilisation and treatment provided prior to airlift to Royal United Hospital Bath.

Tasked by Police to railway line thermal search carried out, body subsequently located. Ground units talked into location and scene illuminated by use of 'nitesun'.

Tasked by Police to report of male with mental health issues seen with shotgun. Male located by aircraft and officers talked into location, male detained.

Police task, helicopter responding to report of stolen vehicle. Vehicle located, followed and commentary provided to ground units. Eventual 'decamp' from vehicle aircraft providing containment, assistance from Dorset aircraft due to low fuel level. Male and female detained.

Tasked by Ambulance to Golf course to male complaining of chest pains. Due to location on fairway ground crew requiring assistance. Pain relieving medication together with diagnostic equipment showing cardiac episode. Patient received clot busting drugs prior to being airlifted to Royal United Hospital Bath.

Police task report of two illegal entrants decamped from lorry and ran into trees. Suspects located and ground units talked into location, both arrested.

Road traffic collision involving motorcyclist head on into minibus. Patient hypoxic due to head injury causing patient to be combative at scene. Medication and treatment administered at scene before airlifting to Royal United Hospital Bath.

Requested to attend reports of rollover road traffic collision with ejection from vehicle. Four casualties at scene, aircraft airlifting to Royal United Hospital Bath with treatment carried out at scene and throughout flight.

Called to patient who had partially amputated digits to hand. Treatment and pain relieve administered and patient flown to specialist unit at Frenchay hospital.

Call made to police by female walking her dog on bridleway who became surrounded by large dogs attacking her and her dog. Aircraft launched female located still surrounded by dogs. Aircraft able to land next to female, police observer onboard able to disperse dogs. Female and dog suffered several puncture wounds. Female received treatment from paramedic onboard. Ground units talked into remote location to make further enquiries.

Call to police to search for vulnerable male missing from home. Male located, aircraft landed at scene with police observer and paramedic attending male prior to returning him to safety.

Night-time HEMS task. Aircraft first at scene of road traffic collision. Patient found some distance from vehicle unclear whether ejected. Airlifted to Great Western Hospital in Swindon with treatment provided throughout.

Requested to Road Traffic Collision, motorcyclist hit stationary 4 x 4 and thrown through its rear window. Patient complaining of spinal pain and fracture to arm. Spinal immobilisation, pain relieving drugs and further treatment given throughout flight to Salisbury District Hospital.

Tasked to West Wiltshire reports of patient discovered by work colleagues unconscious in car. Overdose suspected and patient airlifted to Salisbury District Hospital with treatment provided.

Patient brought to helipad at police headquarters with multiple stab wounds in cardiac arrest. Advance Life Support carried out during flight to Great Western Hospital Swindon.

Called to Center Parks to patient collapsed in swimming pool. Treatment provided and patient airlifted to Royal United Hospital in Bath for further treatment.

Tasked to male dragged by car trapping him between bodywork and door. Male trapped by chest, semi conscious and suffering with hypoxia. Patient airlifted to Great Western Hospital with improvement to conscious level noted on route.

Helicopter launched to report of persons breaking into premises. 2 vehicles located at scene and on approach of helicopter both moved off in different directions. Both vehicles were monitored by crew and police ground units were updated and offending vehicles stopped. Six persons from both vehicles arrested on suspicion of burglary.

Tasked to Swindon area to patient trapped against fence post by a tractor mower, complaining of severe abdominal pains. Treatment given prior to airlift to Great Western Hospital.

- Tasked to South Wiltshire area to patient out rambling disturbing a wasps' nest and receiving multiple stings, patient airlifted to Salisbury District Hospital.

Report of vehicle on motorway with persons on board being held against their will. Vehicle located and containment provided whilst traffic units arrested two persons for false imprisonment.

Report of Parachutist receiving heavy landing. Patient complaining of pain to lower spine, full spinal immobilisation and treatment provided, patient conveyed to Salisbury District Hospital.

Patient found electrocuted, CPR in progress. Full Advanced Life Support carried out throughout and patient flown to Great Western Hospital.

Call from Disabled male driving mobility scooter broken down in middle of farmland unsure of exact location. Aircraft lifted to search for male and quickly located him. Landed at scene and assistance provided to male and his scooter!

Reports of paving slab having been put through public building. Ground units at scene witnessed male inside premises. Aircraft provided containment of building, male subsequently arrested.

Airborne to paragliding accident, pilot having a canopy collapse at 50ft. Pilot's harness contained 'air bag' system, providing some cushioning to fall. Patient found to have fracture to ankle, no other obvious injury. Due to inaccessible location, patient airlifted to Great Western Hospital.

Night time HEMS task, aircraft called to single vehicle road traffic collision car leaving road, landing on roof. Patient self extricated but found lying down at road side. Patient complaining of being short of breath, with abdominal and back pain with numbness from waist down. Patient conveyed to Great Western Hospital with spinal immobilisation and treatment provided throughout.

Call made to police during early hours of morning from security staff at Stonehenge having problems with male found on site. Search commenced and male quickly located using thermal imagery, scene illuminated with 'nitesun', male subsequently detained.

Request by ground ambulance to assist patient having 'fit'. Drug medication given and patient airlifted to Royal United Hospital.

Please click on links below to read about other Incidents our Crew have attended:-