Sellafield Ltd through Social Impact, Multiplied (SiX) programme has committed £195,990 to support the Great North Air Ambulance Service (GNAAS), helping fund 30 advanced critical care missions.

This vital funding will enable GNAAS to continue delivering rapid, life-saving treatment to some of the region’s most seriously ill and injured patients.

Tracey West, head of social impact at Sellafield, said: “Through our SiX programme, we’re committed to investing in projects that strengthen our communities.

“The Great North Air Ambulance Service plays a vital role across West Cumbria, delivering specialist care in some of the most challenging circumstances.”

In the past year alone, the service attended 129 emergencies across West Cumbria, bringing specialist doctors, paramedics, equipment and care directly to those who need it most.

GNAAS doctors and paramedics give advanced care at the scene. This can include giving anaesthetic, blood transfusions and other life-saving treatment before patients reach hospital.

The importance of this work is deeply felt across our local communities, including within Sellafield.

When one of their colleagues, David Pennington collapsed while at work on site following a cardiac arrest, his colleagues and emergency responders helped save his life before the air ambulance team arrived and flew him to hospital.

David, had been an active runner, completing long-distance runs just days before the incident.

After arriving at work, he collapsed suddenly.

David said: “I can’t remember anything from that day apart from showing my pass at the gate. It was mind boggling to go from running miles to having a cardiac arrest and waking up days later not knowing what had happened.”

Colleagues and on-site emergency responders performed CPR and used a defibrillator to revive him before the air ambulance arrived.

The air ambulance team placed David into a medically induced coma and airlifted him to the Cumberland Infirmary in Carlisle.

Talking about this experience, he explained: “My body kept shutting down and I was very confused. The decision was made to put me into a coma and get me to hospital quickly.”

Speaking about the Air Ambulance David added: “Those men and women deserve every bit of recognition we can give them.

“It’s fantastic donations like this that help keep them in the sky – and people like me at home with their families.

“Each one of them is a hero to me, and if my story can help in any way then it’s the least I can do.”

The Great North Air Ambulance Service is a charity and must raise £9.6 million each year to run its service across the Northeast, North Yorkshire, Cumbria and the Isle of Man.

Natasha Banks, senior relationship manager at GNAAS, said: “We’re incredibly grateful to Sellafield for this generous support, which will directly fund life-saving missions across West Cumbria.

“This funding will have a real and immediate impact, helping us ensure patients receive the critical care they need, wherever and whenever they need it.”

Sellafield Ltd is part of the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) group which invests around £15 million each year in projects that enable permanent and sustainable change in its site communities.