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A thief stole an air ambulance paramedic's helmet from beside a helicopter during a 999 emergency call out, it's been revealed.

Bosses at North West Air Ambulance Charity said its lifesaving crews were 'shocked and saddened' by what they called a 'mindless act'. Flight helmets - described as specialist and vital kit - enable crew members to speak to each other while in the air. They are made to measure, moulded to fit the shape of the wearer's head, and cost more than £2,000 each, the charity revealed as it issued an appeal for anyone with information to come forward.

The air ambulance crew were responding to a 999 call in Whitefield, near Bury, at 3.30 pm last Friday when the theft took place. As they were preparing to attend to a patient, a group of youths on bikes rode past and took the flight helmet from beside the helicopter.

A statement from the North West Air Ambulance Charity said: "On Friday, October 6, a critical care paramedic from the North West Air Ambulance Charity had their flight helmet stolen.
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North West Air Ambulance (Image: Liverpool Echo/Colin Lane)

"The flight helmets are specialist and vital pieces of equipment, importantly they allow crew members to communicate with each other when in the air. They are not only worn for communicating, but they provide vital safety to the person wearing them.
Without the flight helmets, the charity’s pilots, doctors, and critical care paramedics cannot respond to emergency incidents in the helicopters as it is [sic] a mandatory safety feature.
The flight helmets cost around £2,200 and are made to measure for each crew member, as they come with special fittings that are tailored to the shape of the person's head."

David Briggs, Operations Director at the North West Air Ambulance Charity, said:

"It is really disappointing to have essential safety equipment stolen from our crews, whilst they are at scene attending to critically injured people. The charity costs £12 million pounds a year to provide lifesaving treatment to the people of the North West.
Our crews and equipment are paid for directly by our hardworking, kind and generous supporters. I’d ask those responsible to consider the impact they made, as their actions prevented us from responding to those who could be their family, friends or neighbours. Our crews are shocked and saddened by this mindless act."

Based at Barton Aerodrome, the helicopter involves uses the callsign Helimed 72.

It had to fly back to base to collect a spare before it could attend any other emergency call outs.

The North West Air Ambulance Charity is not part of the NHS and doesn't receive any government funding, relying on donations.

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