Each year, Wales Air Ambulance teams up with fellow charity Tŷ Hafan to give Santa a helping hand delivering some presents to children at the hospice.

While his trusty reindeer were having a final rest before the big day on Christmas Eve, Santa hitched a ride with our Children's Wales Air Ambulance crew to the hospice in Sully, near Barry. 

Helicopter transfer practitioner Dewi Thomas, from our paediatric and neonatal division, met up with Santa for the surprise trip.

He said: "This year it was a bit too foggy for the helicopter to land, but our rapid response car was on hand to get Santa to the party on time.

"It was fantastic meeting Santa, who let me in on a few secrets - including how his loyal reindeer really fly!" 

He added: "It was a such a pleasure meeting everyone today, I was really honoured to be a part of it. It's my job to fly poorly children and babies to hospitals like Great Ormond Street and the Children's Hospital for Wales, so it meant a lot to me to visit the children, families and wonderful workers at Tŷ Hafan."

Angela Hughes, chief executive of the Wales Air Ambulance Charity, said: “Our crews were thrilled to help Santa deliver his presents, while his hard-working reindeer took a final rest.  It’s wonderful that we could add a little bit of extra magic to families at Tŷ Hafan this Christmas.”

The Wales Air Ambulance Charity provides vital emergency air cover every day for anyone who faces life-threatening illness or injury. It also runs the Children’s Wales Air Ambulance, dedicated to flying babies and children to between hospitals to the specialist treatments they need.

WAAC has a fleet of rapid response cars across Wales, so the charity’s critical care doctors and paramedics can reach people even in adverse weather.