THE family of toddler Lucas Duff - the first child airlifted in the new Wiltshire Air Ambulance - is fundraising for the charity in a bid to say thanks for their efforts treating the youngster.

Lucas, then aged 16 months, was with his mum, Gemma Duff, in the café at the Waitrose store in Malmesbury on January 19 when he suddenly became unwell and suffered a severe allergic reaction to something he had eaten.

Mrs Duff, 31, a Partner at Thrings LLP in Swindon, said: “Lucas was rubbing his eyes. He wouldn’t eat anything and his lips became swollen almost instantly.

"By the time I got to the baby changing area in the store his ears, arms and legs were swollen and his eyes were so swollen they were closing.

"I rang for an ambulance. He was coughing and choking and his skin was red.”

A paramedic in a Rapid Response Vehicle was first on the scene and gave Lucas medication for his severe allergic reaction.

A land ambulance and the air ambulance arrived soon afterwards.

WAA's Bell 429, which went into service early in the New Year, flew Lucas to Bristol Children’s Hospital and he was discharged that evening after being monitored throughout the day.

Now Mrs Duff and her husband, Craig have decided to raise money to repay the cost of Lucas’ helicopter trip.

Craig, 31, group solicitor at Connect Group PLC in Swindon, together with six family members and friends are taking on the Three Peaks Challenge climbing Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Snowdon in 24 hours on August 1.

They have an online donation site at www.justgiving.com/TeamLucasGoWalking. Mr and Mrs Duff, of Charlton, near Malmesbury, recently visited WAA’s air base in Devizes with Lucas to meet the crew who airlifted Lucas.

Mr Duff said: “Thanks to the amazing team at Wiltshire Air Ambulance Lucas got the urgent care he required.

"We understand that the average cost of a mission in the helicopter costs approximately £2,500 and so as a meaningful way of expressing our thanks the boys and I will be taking on the Three Peaks Challenge.”

Mrs Duff said: “I had heard of Wiltshire Air Ambulance but I never thought we would have to use it.

"I didn’t know that it was reliant on fundraising and doesn’t receive any Government funding. This seems unbelievable for such an invaluable service for our community and one we certainly feel indebted to.”

WAA Critical Care Paramedic Richard Miller, who was part of the air crew which treated Lucas, said: “When we arrived Lucas was still unwell.

"We worked with the land crews to stabilise him on scene and decided it was best to fly him to Bristol Children’s Hospital to find out what had caused the reaction.

“The episode was potentially life threatening because the allergic reaction came on very quickly.

"He could have relapsed en-route to hospital and the speed of the aircraft meant we got him to Bristol in ten minutes.

"Going by road would have taken about 45 minutes. He was in the right place – a regional paediatric centre – to be treated.”

Rebecca de la Bedoyere, WAA’s fundraising manager, said: “The crew were delighted to welcome Lucas, Craig and Gemma to the air base and show them the helicopter.

"We are extremely grateful to Craig and Gemma for fundraising for us and wish Craig, his friends and family taking part in the Three Peaks Challenge all the best.”

The charity’s new helicopter started operating on January 9 and is the first Bell 429 to operate as an air ambulance in the UK. It has a top speed of 156 knots (180mph) making rapid response to any incident within the county achievable within minutes.

Wiltshire Air Ambulance has been saving lives for 25 years and this year it will cost £2.5 million a year to keep the air ambulance flying - £6,850 per day.