Flying high to raise funds for the local air ambulance that saved his dad’s life

Grateful son Dave Hulland from Etwall, Derbyshire is using his 30^th birthday wing walking experience to raise funds for the local air ambulance charity he credits with saving his dad’s life.

Dave was planning to celebrate reaching his third decade on a cruise around the Norwegian fjords with his partner Harriett Cant, but the trip was cancelled due to the Covid-19 crisis.

“I decided to book an experience instead and, as it’s all paid for, it makes sense if someone else benefits from it,” he says.

Each mission attended by Derbyshire, Leicestershire & Rutland Air Ambulance (DLRAA) costs £1,700. The charity receives no government funding and relies on public donations to remain operational.

In August 2017, Dave’s dad Phil was put into a medically induced coma by a DLRAA doctor and critical care paramedic after he suffered a cardiac arrest in his sleep at home in Spondon, Derbyshire.

This procedure is normally only carried out in a hospital environment but the air ambulance crew were qualified to do it at the scene and Phil went on to make a full recovery.

“Despite the amazing efforts of everyone else who attended my dad, I don’t think he would be alive today if he wasn’t put into a coma. His cardiologist told him that his chances of surviving were only 0.15 per cent. It really is a miracle that he’s still here,” says Dave.

The wing walk on July 30^th is taking place at an airfield in Gloucestershire.

Dave has already completed a skydive but says he is “slightly anxious” about the prospect of being strapped to the top wing of a vintage biplane.

“I’m going to have an amazing experience and if the charity that saved my dad’s life benefits from it as well, then it will literally be the icing on the birthday cake for me,” he says.

Dave has set up a JustGiving page for anyone wanting to sponsor him: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/david-hulland?utm_source