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Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance (HIOWAA) has unveiled a new emergency response car, funded by a £38,265 donation from the HELP Appeal – the UK’s only charity dedicated to supporting NHS hospital helipads, including those at University Hospital Southampton and St. Mary’s Hospital, Isle of Wight.
The Volvo XC90, fitted with blue lights and advanced life-saving equipment, carries the same critical care kit as the charity’s helicopter. From blood products and defibrillators to life support machines and advanced monitoring systems, the vehicle ensures patients receive the same standard of pre-hospital emergency care whether crews arrive by air or road.
The addition comes at a pivotal time for HIOWAA. For the first time in the charity’s history, road missions outnumbered helicopter deployments in 2024. Of the 2,544 incidents attended last year, 1,346 (53%) were reached by car. Since introducing its first emergency response vehicle in 2017, the charity has responded to more than 7,500 road missions.
One such mission saved the life of Julian Pierce, 61, a staff member at the University of Southampton. Julian went into cardiac arrest at his desk and was found by colleagues who began CPR. Within 12 minutes, the HIOWAA team arrived by car and performed a pre-hospital emergency anaesthetic – a complex procedure usually associated with hospital care.
Using specialist anaesthetic drugs and ventilation equipment, the team secured Julian’s airway, helping protect his vital organs. Reflecting on his survival, he said: “I just presumed they would resuscitate and shock me, get me breathing and bundle me into an ambulance. But the fact they intubated and ventilated me in the foyer of my workplace is frankly unbelievable. I am just astonished.”
The HELP Appeal’s funding has ensured that patients like Julian can receive hospital-level care at the roadside, even when conditions prevent the helicopter from flying or when extra resources are required at major incidents.
“2024 was the first year we responded to more emergencies by road than by air – illustrating the importance of these cars. We are incredibly grateful to the HELP Appeal and its supporters for their generosity, which will undoubtedly change and save lives in our region for many years to come.”
Richard Corbett, Chief Executive of HIOWAA.
The HELP Appeal has been instrumental in strengthening the service, also donating £300,000 in 2024 to help launch HIOWAA’s £3.6m Operation Airbase appeal, which will see the charity relocate to a more central base.
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