Grand entrance for Cornwall Air Ambulance helicopter at Royal Cornwall Showground

(Download a higher quality version of the video here: https://we.tl/tAl5UmqBGx)

The Cornwall Air Ambulance made a grand entrance as it touched down at the Royal Cornwall Showground with just days to go until this year’s event gets underway.

The helicopter G-CIOS will form the centrepiece of the charity’s stand at the Royal Cornwall Show 2017. The helicopter made the short flight from air ambulance headquarters at Newquay, circling the showground at Wadebridge, before landing with pin-point precision on the charity’s stand on Thursday 1 June.

Video footage shot from the aircraft captured the showground from the air, revealing preparations for the event are in full swing. The back-up helicopter, which is one of two aircraft operated by Cornwall Air Ambulance, will remain in place throughout the show which runs from Thursday 8 June to Saturday 10 June.

Visitors to the air ambulance’s stand 471 will be able to see the helicopter up close, meet the crew and fly a 360 degree virtual reality mission using a headset, which puts the viewer inside the helicopter as it flies to rescue a patient in need of help. People will also be able to take part in the 30th Anniversary Grand Draw where, for just £1, they can buy a ticket to win a new car kindly donated by Hawkins Motor Group.

James Oxley, Communications and Marketing Manager at Cornwall Air Ambulance, said: “The air ambulance has been a popular attraction at the Royal Cornwall Show for many years, but this year is extra special because we have been named as an official charity and 2017 is our 30th anniversary.

“During those 30 years, the air ambulance crew has flown more than 26,000 missions to those in urgent need of medical care, saving numerous lives, but not a single mission could have been flown without the generosity and support of the people of Cornwall.

“Being able to fundraise at events like the Royal Cornwall Show is vital in keeping the air ambulance flying so please do come along to the charity’s stands, see the helicopter, meet the crew, buy a Grand Draw ticket and show your support for your air ambulance.”

Cornwall Air Ambulance at the Royal Cornwall Show

Stand 471

– See the helicopter and meet the crew

– Fly a 360 degree, virtual reality mission

– Win a car in the 30^th Anniversary Grand Draw

Stand 335

– Pop-up charity shop

Stand 165

–  Mission Maker Lottery

ENDS

Notes to Editors

For further information and interviews: James Oxley, Communcations and Marketing Manager ( james@cornwallairambulancetrust.org,  01637 88 99 26 / 07817 929679) or Kate Hucklesby, PR, Marketing and Media Officer (kate@cornwallairambulancetrust.org, 01637 88 99 26 / 07817 929679).

Cornwall Air Ambulance Trust is the charity that fundraises to operate the helicopter emergency medical service for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.  Every year our helicopter responds to around 700 emergency calls for help and is on-scene at an incident in an average of just 12 minutes. The helicopter can reach patients in any part of Cornwall, significantly reducing the time taken to get seriously ill patients the treatment they need – in hospital or on-scene. It costs £3m per year to operate this service, and with no National Lottery or direct government funding, the charity relies on the generosity of the people and businesses of Cornwall.