A DOCTOR from the Ulster Hospital will soon be taking off his scrubs to put on his flying suit as he prepares for a 15,000ft skydive to raise money for Air Ambulance NI.
Dr Ciaran McKenna, an emergency medical consultant will be completing the challenge at Skydive Ireland in Garvagh on September 6 alongside Air Ambulance NI pilot Rich Steele.
Dr McKenna however is no stranger to being in the air as he has been part of the Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS) since its formation in 2017 and has taken part in two previous skydives.
The HEMS service provides critical care at the scene of incidents across Northern Ireland seven days a week, 12 hours a day. It operates through a partnership between the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service and the Air Ambulance NI charity, with funding from the Department of Health.
The team is responsible for being called out to a range of serious incidents including road traffic collisions, farm and workplace accidents, sport and leisure injuries and medical emergencies.
“The skydive is part of our fundraising efforts to keep the service operational,” said Dr McKenna. “The charity needs up to £3m in donations every year to keep the helicopter in the air so that we can deliver our clinical services. We are very grateful to everyone who has donated so far.
“I have been involved with the Air Ambulance NI charity since the service was set up. I was inspired to take part in this fundraising effort because of the type of cases that we go to.
“I grew up in a farming background myself and I am very much aware of the risks across our population. Myself and the team have seen the vital work that HEMS provides and I am very happy to support that.”
He added, “We have every confidence in the Wild Geese Parachute Team, who will be with us and we will let gravity do its thing. We appreciate every pound that has been given so far.”
