Over three years ago, Wales Air Ambulance was called to an unconscious horse rider who desperately needed help after being involved in a riding accident. Now the Pembrokeshire woman is helping the charity to rescue others across Wales.

Delyth Phillips, a riding instructor at the South Pembrokeshire Pony Club, was at a riding lesson in Cardigan when her horse wouldn’t slow down, and she had no choice but to jump off the out of control stallion.

Delyth said: “My horse was cantering, and he wouldn’t pull up. I had to bail.

“When I came off, I hit the back of my head on the wooden post and rails in the arena, and was knocked out for seven minutes.”

After coming off her horse, Delyth was knocked unconscious. Witnesses called 999, and Wales Air Ambulance was called to the scene, landing on the bottom half of the show arena.

The crew treated the riding instructor at the scene, before airlifting her to Morriston Hospital for the care she needed.

Each of the Welsh helicopter charity’s lifesaving missions costs around £1,500, funded by kind donations and support.

To thank the charity for rescuing her, Delyth hosted a Wales Air Ambulance fundraiser to celebrate her 50^th birthday.

Delyth said: “I always said I would do a fundraiser for Wales Air Ambulance, and my 50^th birthday party seemed like a perfect opportunity for a fundraising – to give something back.”

The horse riding instructor held a birthday party to fundraise for WAA, collecting donations through sheep racing, a barbeque and garden games.

Friends and family donated to the charity to celebrate Delyth’s birthday, helping to raise £700 for Wales Air Ambulance to thank them for coming to the riding instructor’s aid.

The donation raised at the birthday fundraiser will help the Welsh helicopter charity to complete its missions across the country, providing emergency air cover for those who face life-threatening illness or injury.

Every year, Wales Air Ambulance needs to raise £6.5million to keep its four-helicopter service flying, positioning its aircraft in Llanelli, Cardiff, Welshpool and Caernarfon, so that the charity can reach anywhere in Wales within 20 minutes.

Mark Stevens, Wales Air Ambulance Fundraising Manager, said: “As a charity, WAA relies on kind donations and support to fund our operations.

“The support we receive through volunteering, fundraisers and by putting coins in a collection tin, means that we can fly to the aid of the people of Wales.

“We are incredibly touched that Delyth would think to fundraise for us to thank us for coming to her aid.

“By fundraising for Wales Air Ambulance, she is helping to ensure that we can fly to someone else in their hour of need.”