THE Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance has been called out on 4,000 emergencies since it was established five years ago.
The service’s landmark 4,000th call-out was to the Island, where a patient needed to be taken to Southampton General Hospital recently.
John Perry, chief executive of Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance, said: "We are enormously pleased to reach this milestone in the life of this vital charity.
"With doctors flying more frequently, the air ambulance can bring enhanced pre-hospital skills directly to the patient at the scene and take a seriously ill patient to the most appropriate hospital for their needs — sometimes after dark, which can have a dramatic effect on the outcome of the patient.
"The air ambulance receives no government or national lottery funding for operational purposes and relies solely on the generosity of you, the people and businesses of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.
"It is only with your support that we are able to bring this service to patients who desperately need it.
"This is a fantastic achievement for such a young charity."