GWAAC is the air ambulance for Bristol

Bristol is the lively, creative hub of the Southwest and the place we call home for our charity head office in Ashton Gate. Famed for the Clifton Suspension Bridge, Banksy’s street art and the International Balloon Fiesta, there’s always something happening in Bristol. As a result, this busy city sees a lot of action from our Critical Care Cars on the roads (594 missions in 2024).

Bristol also benefits from incredible medical facilities, like Southmead Hospital and Bristol Royal Infirmary, where many of the patients who require our services are taken – on the helicopter by us, via our critical care car, or by our friends out on the roads with the ambulance service.

Home to two GWAAC shops in Westbury-on-Trym, our high street presence in Bristol connects us with our incredible supporters. These shops help embed us as the local air ambulance charity for the Bristol community. - Find out more about our High Street shops on our retail web page.

With an amazing community atmosphere, fun-filled city-wide events and exceptional medical teams, Bristol is a great place to get involved in supporting your local air ambulance charity.

Please do get in touch if you would like to find out more about fundraising in the city or volunteering with us.

2024 Bristol missions in numbers:

656

Call-outs to Bristol

Up from 537 in 2023

62 by helicopter

Compared to 45 in 2023

594 by critical care car

Up from 492 in 2023

364

Medical emergencies

Up from 275 in 2023

292

Trauma incidents

Up from 262 in 2023

We were called out to Bristol 656 times in 2024. That's up from 538 times in 2023 and 525 times in 2022.

Meet Eloise - Supporter Engagement Coordinator for Bristol

Eloise's Q&A

Bristol Hotspot

I can't pick one so here's a perfect day! Start with a visit to Wapping Wharf for some fantastic food, then take a short drive to Snuff Mills for a scenic and relaxing walk. Finish the day with a drink at The Star in Fishponds—perfect!

Favourite fundraiser

I think my favourite type of fundraiser has to be any music event. Recently, a group of students organised one at the Crown in Bristol, and it was fantastic! It wasn’t just an excellent way to encourage students to donate—it also gave everyone a chance to enjoy a great night out.

What Surprised You Most About GWAAC

What surprised me the most about GWAAC is that we don’t receive any government or National Lottery funding. Instead, we rely entirely on the incredible generosity of the communities we serve.

Favourite Thing About Working for GWAAC

What I love most about working for GWAAC is knowing that my efforts help enable our crew to deliver pre-hospital emergency medical care to the community we all share

Favourite food

Pizza, without a doubt—especially the Double Chorizo and Hot Honey Pizza from Pizzarova. It's absolutely delicious!

Top TV recommendation

It has to be Strictly Come Dancing! It's always such an entertaining and feel-good show.

Forrest's Story

“Approximately 83 other people in the UK suffered out-of-hospital cardiac arrests on that day in April!! Seven of us survived to tell the tale.”

Forrest Wheeler - GWAAC Patient

Forrest Wheeler was a fit and healthy Gloucestershire man enjoying a parkrun on Sat 22nd April 2017 when he suffered a cardiac arrest. Five years on, Forrest is here to tell his story of what happened that day and to share the incredible chain of coincidences and unbelievable good luck that led to his survival.