From one flight to thousands – what our first flight taught us

The charity was founded in September 2000, but it was the following year that we started flying. Through one of our founders, Gerry Hermer AFC, and his company, Sterling Helicopters, the new East Anglian Air Ambulance initially flew one day a week – on a Friday – and it was deployed by the NHS ambulance service, as it still is today. It was late afternoon on 9 February 2001 when the call came in for the first ever tasking for the charity. The helicopter, a Bolkow 105 flown by pilot Richard Bendy, lifted at 16:00 with two paramedics on board. They supported the ambulance service at the scene before flying back to Norwich, landing at 16:55. It was a somewhat humble and quiet start for a service which, 25 years later, would be operating 24/7 and tasked an average of eight times every day to bring advanced critical care directly to some of our region’s most seriously injured and unwell people.

It wasn’t long before the helicopter carried its first patient. Just a few weeks later, on 2 March 2001 at 13:15, we were called to North Norfolk to help a schoolboy who had been hit by a car. The patient was flown to the old Norfolk and Norwich Hospital in the city centre. It was a snowy day, and the pilot had to avoid the snow showers between North Norfolk and the landing site at the Hewett School.

Pilot, Richard Bendy recalls, “Whilst waiting at the school, there were several more snow showers. Snow coated the blades, which we had to remove before returning to base.”

The schoolboy and his family subsequently supported East Anglian Air Ambulance and contributed positively to local media coverage. This resulted in an influx of donations from the public, in addition to receiving a significant donation from The AA (the reason our helicopters are yellow).

These inaugural flights were more than just firsts; they helped to shape the future for East Anglian Air Ambulance, and they were early lessons for the foundation of the lifesaving service we’ve built together over the years.

It reinforced that there was a need for a local air ambulance service in a large rural region and that, through collaboration, this could be achieved. Today, we are a vital partner of the emergency services attending the most serious of medical emergencies; people who have suffered cardiac arrests, been involved in road accidents or suffered severe accidental injuries, for example. It also demonstrated that people wanted to support their local air ambulance.

Matthew Jones, Chief Executive of East Anglian Air Ambulance, said, “From the vision and commitment of our three founders, Andrew Egerton-Smith MBE, Captain Gerry Hermer AFC and Patrick Peal MBE, to the public who have tirelessly fundraised, volunteered and supported us in many ways, the kindness and dedication of many has turned ambition into action. We remain truly humbled and thankful for this support today because, every year, it gives thousands of people in our communities the best chance of survival and recovery from a life-threatening medical emergency.”

East Anglian Air Ambulance has evolved to a 24/7 service providing lifesaving critical care every day of the year, across Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Norfolk and Suffolk – and sometimes beyond when needed. Whether by air or road, we’re there for the most seriously ill and injured, when every second counts and probably on the worst day of their lives. Our specialist doctors and paramedics bring hospital-level treatment straight to the scene – from blood transfusions and pain relief to anaesthesia and emergency surgery. We also provide vital aftercare, train people in lifesaving skills, and carry out clinical research to keep improving care.

Our patients will always be at our heart – we care deeply about the work we do and the people we help and, as we reflect on our very first flight 25 years ago, one thing is for certain; without you, we wouldn’t even have taken off.