PATIENTS rescued by Wiltshire Air Ambulance were reunited with the crew members who saved them at the unveiling of its new helicopter yesterday.

The state-of-the-art Bell 429 helicopter, bought from Canada and the first of its kind to operate as an air ambulance in the UK, landed before an expectant crowd in Salisbury.

There was much rejoicing as the aircraft, with the distinctive yellow and green colours of Wiltshire Air Ambulance, landed at Trafalgar Park.

Among those waiting to see the aircraft and its latest in-flight technology and trauma care equipment was Dave Haines, from Stratton, who was airlifted into hospital after coming off his motorbike on the A420 between Chippenham and Allington 10 years ago.

He only managed to walk unaided for the first time five years after the accident.

But he did not give up riding motorbikes and is now an instructor for the Institute of Advanced Motorists.

He said: “Without the care and treatment of the air ambulance crew and this amazing flying machine, I would not be here today.”

The helicopter was officially welcomed to the county by Sarah Rose Troughton, the Lord Lieutenant of Wiltshire, who said: “I am delighted to mark this new and exciting chapter for the charity, just before it celebrates its silver jubilee next year.

“It has been on 15,000 missions since it entered service in 1990, and saved the lives of hundreds of people.”

She thanked Wiltshire Police for their 24-year partnership with the joint air ambulance and surveillance helicopter, which comes to an end this December as the police join the National Police Air Service.

They are to allow the Bell 429 to continue to operate from Devizes Police HQ for the next three years Master of ceremonies Graham Rogers, of BBC Wiltshire, said: “What I find stunning is that the moment it gets a call, it can be anywhere in the county it is needed in just 11 minutes.

Mandy Clarke, the WAA chairman of trustees, said: “Thank you to the scores of volunteers who have shaken buckets, given talks and manned the shops. It is a real combined team effort.”

Sebastien Moulin, the regional manager Europe of Bell Helicopter, said: “We are extremely proud to be the new partner of Wiltshire Air Ambulance in this project.

“We are here to perform life-saving missions in your community, to give you peace of mind knowing you’re being backed by an industry leading aircraft.”

It is due in service on January 1, 2015.