When we’re bombarded commercial messages com February 14th it can be easy to be cynical about Valentine’s Day. But if we treat that date in the calendar as a reminder to cherish those most important to us - our relatives, partners, children, neighbours and friends – then it’s a great opportunity to give thanks to them and to remember their value.

The Parkhouse Family

In 2011, the Parkhouse family had one of the most terrifying experiences of their lives, when their son, Matthew, had to be air lifted to Bristol hospital by Devon Air Ambulance.

“We’ll never forget that day,” said Matthew's dad, who had to watch his son and his wife fly off to hospital. But because of Devon Air Ambulance’s vital, life-saving service, thankfully Matthew arrived safely at Bristol hospital within 27 minutes of leaving Barnstaple and went on to make a full recovery.

You can watch young Matthew's account in the above video.

Our patients' stories are very important as they help our messages to be heard. But the reality is that due to patient confidentiality we only hear from around 15% of those we airlift. If you or someone close to you has been airlifted and you would like to share their story with us, then we'd love to hear from you.