When the heart stops, the clock starts … here, Duncan Bootland, Medical Director at Air Ambulance Charity Kent Surrey Sussex (KSS), shares the charity's Christmas appeal - help save lives today.

In the time it takes you to read this sentence, your heart will beat six times, now eight, now ten, now twelve

But life can change in a heartbeat!

This Christmas, and every day, across Kent, Surrey and Sussex, around 25 people will suffer a cardiac arrest at home or in the community. For every minute their heart isn’t beating, their chance of survival drops by 10%. Currently, only 1 in 10 survive.

Every second counts to get expert medical help to get to the scene, fast. It can mean the difference between survival and heartbreak.

We’re Air Ambulance Charity Kent Surrey Sussex (KSS), your local air ambulance charity.

Our helicopters are flying emergency rooms. When there’s a life-or-death call, we bring specialised doctors, paramedics and treatment to the scene, fast. And we don’t stop, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Duncan Bootland

But this lifesaving service comes at a cost.

Every year we respond to over 3,000 incidents, around 300 of which are to the most critical cardiac arrest patients. And at £4,200 a mission, that’s a cost of over £1.2m just for us to reach, treat, and care for people in cardiac arrest. These missions are only possible due to the generosity of the people of the South East who very generously support us every year. Over 91% of our annual running costs are funded by our amazing supporters.

That’s why this Christmas we’re asking for your help. Your donation could be the reason our crew reaches someone in time, a life is saved, a family is kept together.

Families like those of Jon and Martyn who, back in 2023, both suffered cardiac arrests on the same day and almost at the same time. Strangers at the time, Jon had set off with his cycling club, and Martyn had joined family and friends on a parkrun. Thankfully, both Jon and Martyn received bystander CPR. Our two helicopters and crews were swiftly dispatched to both scenes to provide advanced are. And once our medical teams had treated and stabilised them, they were both flown to William Harvey Hospital for ongoing intensive care.

The two men later met on the same ward, identified just how closely their experiences matched, and along with their families, formed a close friendship.

Their story is one of survival, gratitude, and enduring friendship, highlighting how quick action and community support, and specialised doctor and paramedic air ambulance support can make the difference between life and death.