Wiltshire 999s
  • Wiltshire news
    • Incidents
    • Courts
  • West Country news
  • News near you
    • Swindon
    • Chippenham
    • Trowbridge
    • Salisbury
    • Find your area >
  • Support
    • Mental health helplines
    • Domestic abuse helplines
  • More
    • Community
No Result
View All Result
Wiltshire 999s
No Result
View All Result
Home Wiltshire news

Lives at risk: Wiltshire Air Ambulance offline for second time in two months

byDaniel Jae Webb
1 June 2020 | 10.22am
Lives at risk: Wiltshire Air Ambulance offline for second time in two months
Share on FacebookPost on XSend via WhatsApp

Lives are at risk as Wiltshire’s only air ambulance is offline for the second time in two months, meaning critically ill casualties are less likely to be flown to specialist hospitals.

Wiltshire Air Ambulance (WAA) has been unable to attend emergencies in the area since last week, with air ambulances from across England are covering the county wherever possible.

Most of the UK’s air ambulances have access to a pool helicopter which can be used to keep medics responding by air. Wiltshire’s doesn’t; they rely on two rapid response vehicles instead meaning they are unable to fly patients to regional major trauma units for life-saving treatment.

The helicopter was offline for ‘scheduled maintenance’ for two weeks at the beginning of April but is on the ground again now for a 50-hour check and more ‘scheduled maintenance’.

but has been regularly unavailable for large periods of time over the past few years.

As first reported by Wiltshire 999s in 2018, the Bell 429 helicopter span out of control at high speed on the helipad at the charity’s then-new airbase on 15 June. The findings of an Air Accidents Investigation Branch investigation was published last month.

Great Western Air Ambulance and Thames Valley Air Ambulance have been attending various calls, including a cardiac arrest in Chippenham yesterday – just seven miles (as the crow flies) from the WAA airbase in Semington near Melksham.

A WAA charity spokesperson confirmed: “Our helicopter is currently undergoing its 50-hour check and requires some scheduled maintenance.

“The helicopter is due to return to our airbase tomorrow (2 June 2020).

“In the meantime we continue to attend incidents in our Rapid Response Vehicles, while being supported by our neighbouring air ambulances in the same way that we support them.”

Click here to join our WhatsApp Channel and get breaking news sent directly to your mobile – don’t forget to turn on notifications by clicking the bell icon.

Click a topic to read more stories like this:

Tags: Wiltshire & Bath Air Ambulance

TOP STORIES

  • All
  • Wiltshire news
  • Wiltshire courts
Wiltshire news

Air ambulance medics treat seriously injured biker after Minety crash

byDaniel Jae Webb
4 July 2025 | 6.35pm
0

...

Read moreDetails
Police target illegal electric bikes and scooters in major crackdown

Police target illegal electric bikes and scooters in major crackdown

30 June 2025 | 1.43pm
New Road Nursery in Chippenham

Reasons behind Ofsted’s closure of Chippenham nursery revealed

5 July 2025 | 9.13am
Air ambulance lands as child injured in incident at Swindon school

Air ambulance lands as child injured in incident at Swindon school

4 July 2025 | 1.16pm
Man repeatedly drugged woman in Swindon – so he could rape her

Man repeatedly drugged woman in Swindon – so he could rape her

3 July 2025 | 6.07pm
  • About us
  • Complaints
  • Contact us
  • Contributor terms
  • Privacy policy
Reporting reality.

All content © State Six News Limited, unless otherwise stated. All rights reserved. | Wiltshire 999s is a trading style of State Six News Limited. Company number: 16190242. | Registered company address: Suite A, 82 James Carter Road, Mildenhall, Suffolk, IP28 7DE.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • 999 News
  • Court News
  • West Country news
  • News near you
    • Swindon
    • Chippenham
    • Trowbridge
    • Find your area
  • Info & Help
    • Wiltshire Flood Warnings
    • Domestic abuse helplines
    • Mental health helplines
    • Court reporting
  • About & Contact
    • About us
    • Contact us
    • WhatsApp alerts
    • Contributor terms
    • Complaints
A TIP-OFF