DORSET and Somerset Air Ambulance has been shortlisted in two categories at this year’s Air Ambulance Awards of Excellence.

The winners will be announced at the Association of Air Ambulances awards ceremony in London on November 14.

Critical Care Paramedic Neil Bizzell is shortlisted in the Air Ambulance Paramedic of the Year category and the air ambulance crew of Dr Jeremy Reid, CCP Leonie German, CCP Paul Owen and pilot Mario Carretta are on the shortlist in the Special Incident Award category.

Neil, the newest member of the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance team, said he has a passion for education and training and has created educational days which are aimed at informing others of the capabilities and skills that Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance can provide.

As a result, in the last year, 52 patients who would not normally have benefitted from the team’s care received treatment.

The incident which has put the ambulance in the special incident award category involved a serious motorcycle incident at the bottom of a deep, narrow, heavily wooded quarry. The nearest and safest landing site was a field on the rim of the quarry approximately half a mile from the incident.

Two motorcyclists had collided head-on. One patient suffered serious injuries and the other had immediate life-threatening injuries.

The citation states: “This patient was in a mortal state and without the organisation, motivation, teamwork and skills delivered by the ambulance team, he most certainly would have died.”

Bill Sivewright, Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance chief executive officer, said: “We are extremely proud that our critical care team have once again been recognised nationally for their outstanding work. Neil’s commitment to patients and to the team is absolute and I believe that he is an example to us all.”