Pictures and video: Midlands Air Ambulance saving lives for 25 years

As if to prove the point, no sooner had yesterday's press call to celebrate the charity's 25 years of service finished, the air ambulance was airborne and on its way to its next emergency.

A woman had been thrown from her horse in Telford, but in this case although the air ambulance attended it wasn't required.

Midlands Air Ambulance online:

• midlandsairambulance.com

• @MAA_Charity on Twitter

• Midlands Air Ambulance on Facebook

• The Midlands Air Ambulance YouTube channel

The life-saving charity is based at RAF Cosford and since launching in 1991 has been called out 43,000 times. The helicopter can be called out six times a day – and it costs £2,500 for each of the 2,500 callouts made every year.

Calls can range from attending to casualties badly hurt in road crashes to rescuing people from clifftops.

One of the biggest emergencies the charity has been called to was the Alton Towers Smiler crash in June last year.

A crew from Cosford was sent to the scene, where they helped save the life of teenager Leah Washington. Tom Waters, David Cooper and Ben Clark were given a Pride of Britain Award for their actions at the Staffordshire site last year.

Speaking about the award, Mr Waters – who was born and bred in Ludlow – said it was humbling to receive it but it was just another day at work for him.

But air ambulance CEO Hannah Sebright said the tragic accident at the theme park has made people realise how important the service – which relies on donations from the public and the time given by volunteers – is. She said: "I am incredibly proud of Tom, David and Ben for what they did on that day, and I am so proud they were recognised for their work.

"But to them it was another day at work and they got on with it as they would any other call.

"The difference with the Alton Towers accident is that people now see how vital our service is. We were the first emergency response there that day, and they worked endlessly to make those poor teenagers safe."

Ms Sebright said the work some of its volunteers do is amazing and the charity could not continue to do what it does without them. She said: "We are incredibly proud to run such a fantastic charity and I am so honoured to be a part of it.

"But we could not do what we do on a daily basis without the incredible support we get from our donors and volunteers. Some of the work they do is amazing and the money they raise is vital for us."

The charity has also attracted a number of local celebrities to become ambassadors for it, including Telford paralympian Mickey Bushell and blind marathon runner Dave Heeley.

*As part of the celebrations, the charity is also asking for anyone celebrating their 25th birthday or wedding anniversary on May 21 to get in touch.

If people do have a celebration on this day they will be invited to the charity's exclusive garden party.

To get in touch email press@midlands airambulance.com