The story behind the origins of this vital service is a fascinating tale. For many years the NHS cast aside the idea of a German-style Helicopter Emergency Medical Service citing the cost of such a revolutionary idea. It took the imagination of the author and the skills of a daring NHS manager to literally get the idea off the ground. Then, with a dedicated band of paramedics, doctors and nurses plus a huge contribution from the family run Bond Helicopters, they set about turning an idea into a fully functioning and highly effective operation they christened FIRST AIR AMBULANCE. The idea was so successful that in the years that followed more and more units were established. One pound from each book sold will be donated to the CAAST charity.

The Cornwall Air Ambulance project is a tale of the triumph of wishful thinking over an intransigent establishment. It is also a tale of the fortunate coming together of a small group of like-minded individuals who were persuaded by the author to agree to do something that no other part of the National Health Service had ever contemplated before - to create a novel new type of 'flying' ambulance. It would carry skilled paramedics and their equipment to the distant corners of the county and revolutionised emergency care. This book describes how the First Air Ambulance project emerged from an idea and became a reality. A portion of the sale price of each book sold or downloaded (min one pound) will be donated to the Cornwall Air Ambulance Trust.