Derek Hicks is on the frontline with the life-saving crew.

A doctor at the Kent Air Ambulance, he has been at the Trust for just over six months.

Dr Hicks trained in North East London and has a background in emergency medicine. Looking for a new challenge and to expand his skills, he decided to join the Trust. He said: "It's been a huge challenge; I spend large quantities of my time worrying, being very stressed and looking after sick patients. It's phenomenally enjoyable.

"I don't think I have been shocked.

~Listen: Hear Derek Hicks tell of his daily life, and give thanks to those who support the service

"In terms of medical conditions we see it's all stuff that is familiar within a hospital environment but obviously the challenge is to treat it without that hospital backup and with a limited and very skilled team.

"What may seem like a simple problem is suddenly not quite so easy when you are on a 6ft x 2ft landing, and you've got to work out how to get a patient safely out of the house."

He praised the general behaviour of the public, but said they were sometimes The "a bit too free with their mobile phone cameras" when the crew was treating patients.

He added: "The police are very supportive and keep people at a respectful distance from the patients we are treating.

"I'm always surprised at how accommodating the people of Marden are when we fly over their homes three times a day.

"The people of Kent really, really value the air ambulance, and that's very apparent from the people we meet."