London’s Air Ambulance was dispatched to treat almost 2,000 patients across the capital last year.

Out of the 1,862 patients treated in 2016, 606 were involved in traffic accidents, 500 were injured in stabbings or shootings and 471 were falls from height.

The other 341 call-outs included rail incidents, industrial accidents and drownings.

CEO Jonathan Jenkins said: “The charity is here to serve everyone in London at all times. 

“Trauma is the biggest killer of people under the age of 45, including children, and can sadly happen to anyone, anywhere. 

“By releasing these statistics we are hoping to raise awareness of the vital work that we do to treat the critically injured, and show more people that we are a charity.”

In south London, Lewisham and Greenwich had the highest number of patients, with 79 and 73 treated respectively and 45 patients were treated by the air ambulance in Wandsworth.

Although it is an outer borough 79 patients were also treated in Croydon, where the air ambulance were called out to deal with the tram crash tragedy in November last year.

Seven people were killed and more than 50 were injured when a tram derailed in Addiscombe Road near Sandilands tram stop.

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Mission map. Infographic: London's Air Ambulance

London’s Air Ambulance are called out to treat patients with traumatic injuries in need of urgent medical attention.

There were fewer incidents requiring air ambulance services in other outer boroughs.

In the south-east there were 46 in Bromley and 35 in Bexley, and in the south-west there were 35 in both Richmond upon Thames and Kingston upon Thames and 20 in Merton.

Sutton had the fewest number of patients requiring air ambulance assistance in the whole of London, with just 19 patients treated over the course of a year.

The busiest postcodes for the air ambulance were SE1, W1 and CR0.

Providing the 24/7 service costs £8.7 million per year which is mostly funded through charitable donations.

Mr Jenkins added:  “With two helicopters to maintain, and the extension of our daylight flying hours in the summer months, the cost of providing our service to London has increased to £8.7 million each year.

“Donations are needed now more than ever and I am urging people to please continue to support the charity.

“Your help - whether that’s donating, volunteering, taking part in an event or asking the organisation you work for to support us – really does make a difference.”