PATIENTS whose lives were saved by the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance have praised the charity as it celebrates its 25th anniversary.

The air ambulance’s first casualty was Ken Duffield, 52 minutes after it went online for the very first time.

Ken was riding his motorcycle to work when he was in collision with a car and sent hurtling nearly 30 yards along the road.

His wife Kirstin was eight months pregnant and they had a son, Alexander, who was two years old.

Ken said: “I was conveyed to hospital within minutes, where I underwent three full-body blood transfusions.

“Because I lost so much blood, my family believe if I had been conveyed by land ambulance, I would not have survived.

“I was kept in hospital for six weeks, during which time my daughter Becca was born.

“Doctors managed to save my leg, but it took 12 operations and five years before it was fully functional.

“Our children have grown up knowing what happened to me and the importance of DSAA’s work.

“So many people including myself, are here because of the work they do.

“They are amazing.”

Betty Boland was six-and-a-half when she fell 12 feet through a neighbour’s workshop roof, landing on her head.

Mum Sarah said: “Betty sustained a life-threatening brain injury and in the blink of an eye, our lives flipped upside down.

“DSAA were tasked to the incident, a decision that would prove life-saving.

“Within 20 minutes we were at Bristol Children’s Hospital, where she was rushed for an MRI scan and X-rays.

“She spent five days in intensive care in an induced coma.

“We are forever indebted to the crew and the charity’s amazing patient and family liaison nurses who were heaven-sent.

“Because of their incredible work, Betty is still with us today and living life to the full.”