THE CEO of Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance was awarded at a national ceremony celebrating the best from the air ambulance community.

Over 250 guests attended the Air Ambulance Awards of Excellence 2016. BBC News reporter and presenter Sophie Long and Helicopter Heroes presenter Rav Wilding handed out 11 awards to outstanding individuals and teams.

The awards, which are independently judged, went to pilots, paramedics, doctors, fundraisers, and volunteers who collected their trophies at the ceremony held in central London on Tuesday.

Bill Sivewright, of Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance, was chosen to receive the chairman’s award, which was presented by the vice chair of the Association of Air Ambulances, Hanna Sebright.

Neil Bizzell narrowly missed out on the top prize for the Paramedic of the Year category, and Dr Jeremy Reid, CCP Leonie German, CCP Paul Owen, and pilot Mario Carretta were all finalists for the Air Ambulance Special Incident Award.

A spokesperson for the charity said: “We are extremely proud of the whole team and a very big congratulations goes to them all.

An enthusiastic audience listened to the stories of each shortlisted nominee, all of whom were chosen for being well above and beyond the call of duty.

Every winner was cheered to and from the stage, not least six-year-old Isobel Pilsworth, winner of the Outstanding Young Person Award, whose fundraising activities after her dad survived a cardiac arrest captured the hearts of the audience.

Chair of the judging panel, Jim Fitzpatrick MP, said: “The stories we heard about the work being done by the nation’s air ambulance services were truly remarkable. What a tonic these stories are in turbulent political times. I would like to congratulate every single one of the nominees and send a message to the winners of the awards that they truly are examples of what can be achieved through teamwork, expertise, courage and determination.”