Air ambulance service finally gets off the ground

Ireland’s first charity-funded air ambulance has finally gone live as a dedicated asset of the National Ambulance Service (NAS).

The Irish Community Rapid Response (ICRR) Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS), which is based at Rathcoole Aerodrome near Millstreet in Co Cork, was called into action just hours later but was stood down on route, before refuelling at Cork Airport and returning to base.