Woman rescued twice backs second air ambulance

A woman who has been helped twice by the Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance has given her backing to the campaign for a second helicopter.

Ruth Ransome suffered two equestrian accidents in three years and has since raised £12,000 for the charity.

An appeal it launched in May to raise £500,000 for a second helicopter has reached the halfway mark.

Ransome described the service as "an absolute lifesaver".

In June 2009, she was riding in a field near her home in Grantham, Lincolnshire, when the horse reared up and landed on top of her.

The air ambulance took her to Lincoln County Hospital, where she was treated for a broken pelvis.

Then, in October 2011, she was riding in the same field when she had another fall, leaving her with a broken femur. Again, she was airlifted to hospital.

The second accident delayed her wedding by six months but left her with a passionate desire to raise money for the charity.

"I do everything I can to support Lincs and Notts Air Ambulance," she said.

"It's such an essential service, especially in a county like Lincolnshire where we're so rural."

Last year the helicopter was deployed 1,608 times, including to 352 road crashes and 672 medical emergencies, and the charity said it was challenging with only a single helicopter.

Rachel Wilson, head of community fundraising for the air ambulance, said: "We cover an area of 3,500 sq miles, and currently that's the biggest area covered by any air ambulance with a single helicopter, so to have a second unit would just make the world of difference to us.

"It is about getting out to more people, helping more people and saving more lives."

The charity hopes to get a new helicopter airborne by late summer next year.

Listen to highlights fromLincolnshire on BBC Sounds, and watch thelatest episode of Look North.

Download the BBC News app from the App Storefor iPhone and iPad orGoogle Play for Android devices