North West Air Ambulance paramedic's specialist helmet stolen

"Mindless" thieves have stolen an air ambulance paramedic's special flight helmet as he tended to a critical patient.

North West Air Ambulance said it was responding to a 999 call in Whitefield, Greater Manchester, on Friday afternoon when a group of youths took it.

It said the helmets, which cost about £2,200, were "vital" for communication and mandatory for safety.

The charity said staff had been left shocked by the theft.

The crew were preparing to attend to a patient when a group of youths on bikes took the helmet from beside the helicopter.

The charity said the flight helmets were "specialist and vital pieces of equipment" which allow crew members to communicate with each other when in the air as well as providing vital safety to the person wearing them.

Without them, it said its pilots, doctors, and critical care paramedics cannot respond to emergency incidents in the helicopters as it is a mandatory safety feature.

They 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, the air ambulance said.

Operations director David Briggs said: "It is really disappointing to have essential safety equipment stolen from our crews while they are at scene attending to critically injured people.

"The charity costs £12 million a year to provide lifesaving treatment to the people of the North West.

"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."

He said the helicopter had to return to its base for a spare helmet before they could continue accepting call-outs to patients.

Greater Manchester Police has been contacted for comment.

Why not follow BBC North West on Facebook, X and Instagram? You can also send story ideas to [email protected]