Air operations director for Great Western Ambulance Service (GWAS), Danny Hopkins, heads up the team, and looks after the other two helicopters in the region.

He has worked for ambulance services for 14 years, including three other helicopter teams.

Danny switched to the London Ambulance Service after five years in the fire brigade.

After a year in London, Danny went on to Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire, where he was trained to fly with the police helicopter and then he went to Worcestershire with the County Air Ambulance where he became one of the air operations officers.

In 2003 he was asked to set up a service in Warwickshire, which was a similar model to the service he runs from Filton.

In December 2006 he joined GWAS to do the same here, and is part of the critical care team, attending incidents.

"It's about being able to deliver the care, that's what attracts me to it really" Danny said. "There are very few services in the country able to offer training and these skills and in a way we are leading the way with the care we can deliver.

"I am passionate about that, about critical care. I am less passionate about the mode of transport."