WHEN THE HEART STOPS,
THE CLOCK STARTS.
Help us reach people fast this Christmas. Thank you.
Your donation of:
Messages to our crew from recent donors
It costs around £57,000 a day to keep our service flying. This Christmas, the gift of life is in your hands. Thank you.
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.Â
Those 30 minutes helped save their lives.
THIS CHRISTMAS THE GIFT OF LIFE IS IN YOUR HANDS
25 PEOPLE
approximately the number of people day across Kent, Surrey and Sussex have a cardiac arrest at home or in the community
EVERY MINUTE
someone's heart isn't beating their chance of survival drops by 10%
ONLY 1 IN 10
people survive cardiac arrest
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.
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.
A year at KSS
Two .
Thanks to people like you
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.
JULIE HILL - April 18, 2026
Donated: £35.00
"Thank you for your time and help to those in need. It is a comfort to know you are all there for us with the amazing and life changing work you do."
Anonymous - April 18, 2026
Donated: £200.00
"Very happy to continue my support for your excellent work"
Anonymous - April 17, 2026
Donated: £25.00
"Keep up this amazing work. Well done everyone."
Maria Banks - April 16, 2026
Donated: £10.00
"Saving lives"
Anonymous - April 16, 2026
Donated: £145.00
"Keep up this important service. Well done Team !"
Kate Chivers - April 16, 2026
Donated: £60.00
"Keep on, your superb work of helping save lives."
Anonymous - April 16, 2026
Donated: £25.00
"Thank you for all the emergencies you deal with so promptly and efficiently. A very necessary service!"
Michael Williams - April 15, 2026
Donated: £25.00
"Good luck with the appeal"
Michael Chowen - April 15, 2026
Donated: £805.00
"Congratulations on all you are achieving, Michael & Maureen"
Peter Booker - April 14, 2026
Donated: £60.00
"The air ambulance are such a fantastic professional team who work tirelessly 365 days of the year saving many many lives, I applaud you all, keep up the fantastic work."
Lorna Hartley - April 14, 2026
Donated: £30.00
"Thank you for everything you do."
Peter Joannou - April 14, 2026
Donated: £184.00
"Thank you for the work you do for us. We raised the money last Saturday Live On The Lanes in Brighton, I am Peter Joannou Brighton’s Singing Barber, along with my friend Glenys shaking the bucket and collecting donations from the community watching & listening to the show ."
Dennis Phillips - April 14, 2026
Donated: £500.00
"I have always thought that this was a very worthwhile organisation and although I had not used the Air Ambulance myself, I want to keep it going for the sake of any patients that do require emergency help."
Richard Hasler - April 14, 2026
Donated: £120.00
"If this amount doubles it might be half an hours worth of Jet A1. Keep up the great work"
Anonymous - April 14, 2026
Donated: £30.00
"Thank you for all of the good work you continue to do ."
Anonymous - April 13, 2026
Donated: £30.00
"You do a wonderful job, there are many people out there who owe you a huge debt, on their behalf, thank you."
Catheine Batho - April 13, 2026
Donated: £60.00
"In memory of Howard…a supporter of KSSX…who, has sadly died."
David Kingham - April 13, 2026
Donated: £60.00
"I am happy to support a great charity"
Stuart Mitchell - April 13, 2026
Donated: £30.00
"You never know. Don't think that you are invincible. These people are dedicated to all. I wish I could give a little bit more. Former patient."
Anonymous - April 13, 2026
Donated: £500.00
"The Air Ambulance services provide essential critical care at the scene of incidents - saving lives day after day after day. Amazing teamwork delivering amazing care in the field! That’s why I support them whenever I can."
Phaedra Hayter - April 13, 2026
Donated: £25.00
"Giving to the Air Ambulance is always worthwhile. Please to support you KSS!"