Newly-qualified aircrew paramedics, from left, IW paramedic Timothy Ross, Vicki Cladingboel, John Gamblin, Kirsty Tullack and Paul Rock.
AN ISLE of Wight paramedic has joined the ranks of the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance (HIOWAA).
Timothy Ross is among 11 new recruits to complete his aircrew training and will join the Helimed 56 team operating from Thruxton air base.
He will now divide his time between the HIOWAA and working as a paramedic on the Island on a six-week rota. "The gruelling extra training has been so worthwhile and I hope my patients will benefit from it," said Mr Ross.
"The air ambulance is used to attend all manner of incidents where accessibility is difficult by land, where a patient needs to be rapidly conveyed to hospital, where land crews need more pairs of hands quickly or where a doctor is needed.
"Flying on Helimed 56 is all I wanted it to be and the view from my office window is amazing."
Wing Cmdr Alistair Howard, of the 333 Squadron at RAF Benson, presented the new recruits with their certificates earlier this month at a ceremony at the Bicester Hotel, Chesterton. Five paramedics from across the south central region will join the HIOWAA crew and six will join the Thames Valley and Chiltern Air Ambulance.
More than 50 people applied for the 11 posts.
Congratulating the new recruits, HIOWAA chief executive John Perry said: "What you have achieved is very significant and important from an operational perspective. I am impressed by the compassion you all have for your patients and look forward to working together, with South Central Ambulance Service, to develop our relationship for the benefit of patients into the future."