A COMPANY has expanded its support for regional air ambulance services during the Covid-19 pandemic by supplying free jet fuel to the Cornwall Air Ambulance Trust.

Total will supply jet fuel to support the air ambulance, which covers Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly and provides a critical emergency service that is run entirely on charitable donations.

It follows donations to the Great North Air Ambulance Service and the Essex & Herts Air Ambulance Trust by Total.

Cornwall Airport Newquay has been supplied with jet fuel by Total since 2017. The donation will be delivered to the Cornwall Airport Newquay fuel farm, which will then refuel the air ambulance.

Total UK will initially cover the air ambulance service’s jet fuel requirements for one month, but this will be reviewed during the pandemic and extended as required.

Ben Marchant, general aviation manager at Total UK, said: “The Total UK team is pleased to support the Cornwall Air Ambulance Trust during the Covid-19 pandemic.

"Cornwall Air Ambulance is the UK’s longest-running air ambulance service and relies entirely on charitable donations, so we are proud to support such a vital service in conjunction with our long-standing partner Cornwall Airport Newquay, at this difficult time.”

Steve Murdoch, chief operating officer at Cornwall Air Ambulance Trust, said: “In this challenging time, we are delighted and grateful that Total UK has reached out and shown its support for the lifesaving work of Cornwall Air Ambulance.

"The generous donation of aviation fuel will fund around 40 missions, that’s potentially 40 lives saved and 40 families kept together.

“Each month the air ambulance helicopter flies to anywhere between 40 and 60 missions, so this donation will help fund around a month of lifesaving critical care. It is through teamwork and co-operation like this that we are able to continue flying to patients across Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.”