A FOREST swimming club’s 24-hour swimathon in aid of an air ambulance may well have saved a life.

Members of Cinderford Swimming Club raised £2,200 for the Great Western Air Ambulance – enough to send its helicopter on one, vital mission.

Air ambulance volunteer Martin Firman told them: “What you have achieved will, perhaps even directly, but most certainly indirectly have saved a life.”

More than 80 swimmers took part in the swimathon at Freedom Leisure in June, completing a total of 17,136 lengths, the equivalent of 267 miles or 428 kilometres which is a journey from the Forest to the French port of Calais.

The swimmers included Gabby Stephens, who swam an amazing 1,136 lengths and three intrepid dads who were persuaded to join their children in the pool.

The club supported the air ambulance because of the life-saving assistance it gave two people from Lydney Swimming Club after a road accident in Blakeney, said Ceris Westlake, who is chair of the Cinderford club.

She said: “The reason we chose the air ambulance was because, without them, those two people who have made such a contribution to swimming and the lives of children and young people in this area would not be here today.”

Club spokesperson Susan Ruff said: “Many thanks to Freedom Leisure who allowed use of the pool free of charge, Fran Hoult, Tom Reynolds and Jayne Wallace who lifeguarded voluntarily, the parents who donated cakes and goody bags and to members who manned reception.

“Without the help of everyone the event would not have been possible.”

Mr Firman said the charity, which operates one helicopter and two rapid response vehicles, needs to raise £3million a year but gets no government funding and is unable to apply to the National Lottery.

He added: “£2,000 funds one mission and last year the demand increased, so we turned out 1,800 times which is a lot of lives saved. 

“We take a consultant surgeon and a trained paramedic – they do whatever they have to do to ensure that person stays alive and is suitable for transportation.

“We are taking the A&E department to the patient,and that not only saves lives, it also aids recovery.”