With an increase in callouts experienced this year, Air Ambulance Northern Ireland’s Agribusiness Group is urging the agricultural community to support the charity, which relies on public donations to raise the £2.5 million in funding required to maintain the service each year.
The charity, in partnership with the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service, provides emergency medical assistance via helicopter, seven days a week on a 12 hour daily basis, with the capacity to reach anywhere in Northern Ireland in under twenty-five minutes.
With an average of two callouts per day, the service is often the critical difference between life and death in Northern Ireland.
The Agribusiness group, which is made up of agricultural enthusiasts and advocates, has been actively fundraising and raising awareness for the charity since 2020.
Speaking on behalf of the group, Rathfriland farmer and trustee of Air Ambulance, Barclay Bell, said:
“The Helicopter Emergency Medical Service has seen an increase on call outs this year from last year, 63 more individuals and families in need of urgent medical care.
“Our charity depends on public support to raise £2.5 million annually to ensure we can continue to be there when people need us most.
“This life-saving service is a vital resource for farmers and rural communities, where access to medical services can be challenging.
“The air ambulance helps to address this by saving lives, protecting brains, and preserving limbs.”
Air Ambulance
According to the Agribusiness group, farm related incidents account for 11% of the charity’s call outs, which average at one farm call a week and frequently involve farm machinery, slurry and cattle.
Bell, who is past president of the Ulster Farmers’ Union (UFU) and actively involved with several other farming organisations, detailed various ways to support the charity, including organising a tractor run or coffee morning, quiz or collection.
“There are lots of ways to support. Air Ambulance NI will be attending RUAS Winter Fair on December 12 and will be one of the benefiting causes for the Armagh Livingstone Tractor Run on December 28, 2024,” he said.
The charity also encourages individuals to become a member by registering a monthly direct debit as a Club Member.
Speaking about her reasons for joining the group, Aurelie Moralis, a farm animal vet based in Castlewellan, Co. Down, said: “I am passionate about being part of the Agribusiness Air Ambulance NI fundraising group.
“As a vet, a mother, living on the farm and a keen hillwalker, I am very aware of the everyday dangers we are exposed to. When accidents happen on a farm, whether it is with livestock, or machinery, time is often of the essence, which is why we must keep the Air Ambulance flying”.
Fellow member, James Speers, added:
“For me, Air Ambulance NI is a lifesaving service that helps everyone across Northern Ireland. It’s important that we all remember our Air Ambulance from time to time, if everyone does a little to help, that helps save lives.”
