Magpas Air Ambulance records busiest year on record in 2025

Cambridgeshire-based charity Magpas Air Ambulance has announced its busiest year ever, being activated 1,948 times across the East of England in 2025.

The publicly funded emergency service, staffed by advanced doctors and paramedics trained in pre-hospital emergency medicine, is only called to the most seriously ill or injured patients.

Last year’s incidents ranged from newborns to 99-year-olds, including high-profile responses such as the major incident at Huntingdon Train Station in November, where the Magpas double Advanced Paramedic team provided life-saving care and supported scene coordination.

Magpas responded to emergencies in 12 counties, with Cambridgeshire accounting for 61% of activations. The majority of calls involved medical emergencies such as cardiac arrests, as well as injuries from road traffic collisions and falls. The charity’s specialist team performed 655 pre-hospital procedures in 2025, including general anaesthetics, sedations, and critical surgical interventions in a wide range of locations—from rural countryside to urban streets and people’s homes.

In addition to emergency care, Magpas continued its community training programme, teaching thousands of people CPR and defibrillator use. The charity reports that 73% of cardiac arrest patients received bystander CPR before their arrival, a figure that has steadily increased year on year.

The service operates around the clock, with 37% of missions occurring overnight, and maintained 24/7 cover through the Christmas period, responding to 56 emergencies between Christmas Eve and New Year’s Day.

Reflecting on the year, Chief Executive Daryl Brown MBE DL said:

"2025 was our busiest year to date, continuing a trend of increasing activations. This growth shows just how much the demand for our service is rising. We are proud to respond whenever critically ill or injured patients need us most. None of this would be possible without the incredible generosity of the public and the tireless fundraising efforts of our communities."

To learn more about Magpas Air Ambulance or to support the service, visit magpas.org.uk.