CORNWALL Air Ambulance recorded its 25,000th rescue mission last week, rescuing a mother and baby in Gunnislake suffering with painful burns from hot water.

The mission took place on Tuesday, February 24 and saw the crew — paramedics Stuart Croft and Mark Fuszard, with pilot Captain Craig Webster — work alongside land paramedic colleagues to treat the patients before transferring them for treatment at Derriford Hospital.

Paramedic Mark Fuszard said: 'We were able to reach the patients within just 17 minutes of leaving our Newquay base and when we arrived were able to assist our land paramedic colleagues in treating and stabilising the patients.

'The decision was made to take the mother and baby to Derriford Hospital for urgent treatment. By road, the journey would have taken at least half an hour, but by air the patients were at hospital within just seven minutes.

'For a patient in pain, reaching hospital in a quarter of the time is undoubtedly of huge benefit — both in terms of comfort and long-term prognosis.'

Besides the charity's 25,000th mission, this rescue was also unusual for Cornwall Air Ambulance in that two patients were carried and treated.

Mr Fuszard said: 'We would usually only take one patient at a time, as then the attention of two paramedics is focused on the one patient and their needs.

'Whenever a baby or child is involved in an incident we always endeavour to take a parent, as the situation is clearly very traumatic for the parents.

'In this instance we were in the unusual position of having both a mother and baby requiring treatment, so we were able to get them both to much-needed hospital treatment quickly and, importantly, together.

'We wish the mother and baby well in their recovery and our thoughts are with their family at what must be a hugely worrying time.'

Cornwall Air Ambulance was the first air ambulance charity in the UK, formed in 1987, and will celebrate its 28th birthday on April 1. Every year the charity flies to around 700 emergency rescue missions, saving countless lives each year.

The charity's chief executive, Paula Martin, said: 'Clearly this was an important mission — particularly for the mother and baby involved — but also for the charity, marking our milestone 25,000th mission.

'Everyday Cornwall Air Ambulance is called to go on emergency rescue missions where someone, somewhere in Cornwall needs fast, specialist medical help.

'As a charity that receives no government funding for our running costs it is only thanks to the people and businesses of Cornwall that these missions can take place.

'Everyday we receive letters, calls and emails of thanks from patients, their friends and families and it really is on behalf of these people that we say thank you to our supporters, without whom not a single mission would be flown.'

To find out how you can support Cornwall Air Ambulance go to http://www.cornwallair">www.cornwallair ambulance.org or call 01637 889926.