Features / Christmas
A special guest arrives from the skies at the BRI
Father Christmas swapped his traditional sleigh for a helicopter when he dropped in to pay the patients at Bristol Children’s Hospital a surprise visit.
The man in red hopped aboard the Great Western Air Ambulance helicopter for a special ride to the hospital on Wednesday morning, waving to the patients in the wards below as he stepped onto the helipad accompanied by a trusty elf.
“As there is only one place to park my sleigh at the hospital, and no chimney for me to get down, I thought I’d pay a visit to the team, so I can make sure I can get back here on Christmas Eve to deliver all my presents,” Father Christmas told Bristol24/7 in an exclusive interview.
is needed now More than ever
“Luckily, the Great Western Air Ambulance was able to give me a lift as they do this route all the time, taking sick and injured patients from across the whole region to the Bristol Royal Hospital to be treated.”
Paediatric major trauma nurse Jenni Fryer said: “Being in hospital is difficult for the children and families, and having Father Christmas here early to make sure everything goes smoothly on Christmas Eve is great fun for all of us.
“The Great Western Air Ambulance, who we work very closely with, took Father Christmas on a similar route as they would patients to the hospital.”
Head of fundraising and marketing for the Great Western Air Ambulance charity, Emma Carter, said that the work of the air ambulance service doesn’t stop for Christmas.
“It’s business as usual for us and Christmas Day can be a very busy one,” Emma said. “Last year we had 11 call-outs across the region.”
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