It costs around £57,000 a day to keep our service flying. This Christmas, the gift of life is in your hands. Thank you.
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Messages to our crew from recent donors
WHEN THE HEART STOPS, THE CLOCK STARTS. Your gift today helps restart more hearts and brings our critical care to people who need us most.
In the time it takes you to read this sentence, your heart will beat six
times. Now eight… ten… twelve…
Life can change in a heartbeat.
On the same day, at almost exactly the same time, two lives hung in the balance. Jon collapsed while cycling near Sevenoaks. Martyn went down just 50 metres from the finish line at a parkrun in Sittingbourne. People nearby began CPR and used a defibrillator. We launched two helicopters and two medical teams. Our crews took over, placed them on life support at the scene, and flew them to specialist cardiac care. Minutes mattered. By air, the journeys took about 10 minutes. By road they would have taken more than 40.
Those 30 minutes helped save their lives.
A year at KSS
A heartbeat apart. The stories of John and Martyn
On the same day, at almost exactly the same time, two lives hung in the balance.
Early intervention is critical to what we call ‘The Chain of Survival’. When people on the ground keep hearts beating and oxygen flowing, KSS doctors and paramedics can arrive quickly to place patients on life support at the scene. This stabilises people like Jon and Martyn, ensuring oxygen reaches their brain and keeping vital organs – including the heart, liver and kidneys – functioning properly. Then, KSS pilots like Dave Gifford can fly patients to specialist cardiac care in hospital as fast as possible.
"Luckily, Jon and Martyn were surrounded by people trained in CPR."
Dave Gifford, KSS Pilot
When every second counts. Every £1 matters.
Every second counts to get expert medical help to get to the scene, fast. This can mean the difference between survival and heartbreak.
It costs us £1.2 million each year to respond to the most critical cardiac arrest patients across Kent, Surrey and Sussex.
Jon's story
"Without Tina, Alan and the others who gave me CPR, I wouldn’t be here."
On 4 March 2023 I’d gone out cycling as I normally did with my club, Sidcup Cycles, I was 58. As usual we’d gone out at half eight on a Saturday morning to do 40 or 50 miles Usually we’d ride out to somewhere in the Kent countryside with a stop halfway for a coffee break.
I don’t remember what happened, but I later learned that I suffered a cardiac arrest and I ended up leaning against a bush while still on my bike, which made it hard for the people around me to work out what had happened as it looked like I was still trying to ride the bike.
Martyn’s story
"We are both living proof that knowing how to do CPR can save a life."
In December 2022 I had given up the delivery job because the traffic around Sittingbourne was getting too stressful. The following February I was asked if I would like to go along to our local Parkrun and do a 5K because I enjoy walking.
I got to within 50 metres of the finish. My friend Dave and my daughter, who’d both finished, came out to run across the line with me. At that moment I collapsed. My eyes were rolling and I was gasping like a fish and it was clear to the people with me that something was badly wrong.
Victoria Trinder - October 12, 2025
Donated: £35.00
"This donation is at the request of my Grandma, Ruth Trinder who is 100 today. Instead of gifts she very generously requested a donation to aid the fantastic work of Kent Air Ambulance."
Michael Tuffley - October 9, 2025
Donated: £35.00
"You do a fabulous job and can only thank you for the great service you provide"
Charlotte Taylor - October 3, 2025
Donated: £20.00
"In loving memory of Judith Hansford 9/1/35 - 7/9/25 Love from Wendy, Carol and Barry"
Chris Babbage - September 27, 2025
Donated: £35.00
"I see air ambulance fly over my place a lot off to save another person's life keep up the brilliant work excellent that is why im already doing cpr training"
Derek Betts - September 25, 2025
Donated: £450.00
"I am happy to support the excellent work of the crew's of the Kent, Surrey and Sussex Air Ambulance."
Amanda McGeehan - September 24, 2025
Donated: £20.00
"In memory of ** Carter, supporter of air ambulance. Rest in peace. Xx"