A Wales Air Ambulance consultant, who is an outdoor enthusiast in his spare time, is urging riders to make a lifesaving difference and sign up for the Charity’s Cycle 100 challenge!
Ben Eagle is an Intensive Care Consultant and Anaesthetist at Swansea’s Morriston Hospital. But two days a month, he is part of the lifesaving crew that takes prehospital emergency medicine to the patient.
The 44-year-old who loves rock climbing and mountain biking, will join four other crew members on the start line on Sunday, 6 September 2026. Riders will cycle from Cardiff to the airbase in Dafen.
Ben admits he ‘took a slightly longer road to medicine,’ than some of his colleagues.
He initially studied a degree in Environmental Science and a Master’s in Hydrogeology, going on to work as an environmental consultant and a researcher at Sheffield University.
But in 2007 that all changed. He said: “I had a few climbing accidents, the worst was a nine-metre fall straight on to the ground, and I had to be airlifted.
“I was lucky I did not break anything, but I still have a nasty scar on the back of my head. It could have been so much worse.
“I was also at a running event, when there was a nasty tent fire, and was involved with two other serious climbing accidents in the space of 6 months.
“It started me thinking about medicine again, and probably was the catalyst for me going down the pathway of critical care and pre-hospital medicine.”
Ben’s father was a General Practitioner, and in school he had considered following the same pathway but didn’t have the self-belief to put himself forward for medicine.
He said: “I was not confident at the time and enjoyed what I did. I ended up moving in with some medics whilst living in Sheffield which got me thinking again.
“After being involved with multiple accidents in a short period of time I realised that I still wanted a career in medicine, one that was more people based”
In 2007, Ben applied to study the four year Post Graduate Medical Degree at Swansea University and was offered a place. He would go on to dual train with anaesthetics and intensive care.
By 2017, he had secured a position as a clinical observer with EMRTS, which he says ‘really ignited’ his love of prehospital critical care, at this point he was completing his anaesthetics and intensive care training.
He said: “I was fortunate to undertake a one-year post CCT fellowship with both the EMRTS and ACCTS services. I subsequently secured a consultant Intensivist job with the Swansea Bay University Health Board and with EMRTS as a consultant on the Wales Air Ambulance.
“If someone had told me ten years ago, I would end up where I am in my career, I would not have believed them.
“This is my dream job, professionally I could not be happier. I am busy with the different hats that I wear but each one presents differing but complementary clinical challenges, although fitting it all in is a challenge”
When he has downtime, he likes to spend it with his family climbing and getting outdoors. But he also values road cycling time with his dad, who he hopes to rope in to do the Cycle 100 event.
Ben said: “It is so important to give back and support this incredible Charity! Without it, I would not be able to do what I do.
“I did the very first challenge back in 2023, so when I spotted the sign-up link for this autumn, I put my name down straight away.
“The people of Wales are the beneficiaries of the service! We are there for them when they need us, so it is so important to fundraise and raise awareness.
“I’m looking forward to meeting all the riders, supporters and sponsors and hope we all raise lots of money for the Charity.”
The Wales Air Ambulance is consultant-led, taking hospital-standard treatments to the patient and if required, transferring them directly to the most appropriate hospital for their illness or injury.
It is delivered via a unique third sector and public sector partnership. The Wales Air Ambulance Charity relies on public donations to raise the £13 million required every year to keep the helicopters in the air and rapid response vehicles on the road.
The Emergency Medical Retrieval and Transfer Service (EMRTS) supplies highly skilled NHS consultants and critical care practitioners who work on board the Charity’s vehicles.
This advanced critical care includes the ability to administer anaesthesia, deliver blood transfusions and conduct minor operations, all at the scene of an incident.
As a pan-Wales service, its dedicated crews, regardless of where they are based, will travel the length and breadth of the country to deliver emergency lifesaving care.
By signing up for Cycle 100 you will be making a lifesaving difference.
We’d ‘wheelie’ love you to join us on the start line on Sunday, 6 September 2026.
Sign up today: https://www.walesairambulance.com/cycle-100k
Gail Windley, Wales Air Ambulance Events and Partnerships Fundraiser said: “We are so grateful for Ben’s support once again and look forward to seeing him on the Cycle 100 start line!
“His journey to becoming a clinician and working for our lifesaving service is truly inspiring, he had a dream and went for it.
“We are thankful for his commitment to Wales Air Ambulance! Ben is juggling a few roles and despite this is using his free time to cycle for us.
“Every pound raised will make a lifesaving difference! Diolch yn fawr!”
