Bond Air Services pilot lands national award for lifesaving mission

Friday, 05 November, 2010

A pilot from Bond Air Services, the UK's leading helicopter services provider, has been commended at a special ceremony in the House of Lords, for his lifesaving role after a gas explosion in South Wales.

Pilot, Capt Grant Elgar, was one of three crew members to have been selected for the prestigious Air Ambulance Team Award 2010, which was presented at the Ambulance Service Institute awards ceremony in London.

The accolade is in recognition of the team's pivotal role in saving the life of a 38-year-old man who suffered serious injuries when a gas cylinder exploded in Bridgend earlier this year.

Despite fading light and difficult weather Capt Elgar, along with air paramedics Phil Thomas and Gareth Williams, treated and flew the patient direct to Morriston Hospital near Swansea, just 34 minutes from the original 999 call.

Jeff Morris of Bryncethin ambulance station said: "They arrived on scene in outstanding time and joined the land crew in actively treating the patient. With great skill and professionalism they continued treatment in-flight, while negotiating bad weather and communicating with the hospital.

"The entire operation was one of speed and impact, which saved this man's life."

This is the crew's second commendation for the mission, after being presented with the Gail Williams Award for Clinical and Operational Excellence by the Welsh Ambulance Service NHS Trust.

Commenting on the award, Chris Greenhill, managing director of Bond Air Services,said: "We commend Captain Elgar and the crew working for the Wales Air Ambulance for a job well done. The successful rescue mission highlights the importance of having a highly skilled and well trained team on board, which is the reason for Bond's continued investment and commitment to the training and nurturing of our pilots."

Wales Air Ambulance chief executive, Angela Hughes, said: "We are immensely proud of all of our aircrew and the lifesaving, skilled work that they do 365 days of the year. It is wonderful for this particular team to receive the recognition it deserves, for making such a difference to someone's life."

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