Ambulance Victoria celebrates 60 years

(Supplied/AV Museum and The Beacon)

Air Ambulance Victoria will today (May 2), celebrate 60 years of pre-hospital care.

The AAV wing of Ambulance Victoria (AV) originated in 1962 and included one rotary wing aircraft and one fixed-wing plane.

Sixty years on and AAV’s has a fleet of four fixed-wing planes and five helicopters (HEMS) that provide a vital link between rural communities and metropolitan health services.

AV’s Manager of Air Operations Anthony de Wit said AAV is at the forefront of pre-hospital patient care in Australia, including in Wyndham.

“While it’s difficult to confirm the number of lives saved since 1962, over the past decade AAV has assisted more than 50,000 people throughout Victoria and our bordering communities,” he said.

“Our fixed-wing arm is the backbone of AAV and it cares for so many patients per year, really helping to connect regional and rural Victoria with the health services that metropolitan Melbourne has to offer.”