Cornwall's air ambulance celebrated a major milestone in its 21-year history today - when it took off on its 20,000th flight.

Pilot Pete McLelland scrambled the life-saving helicopter at 2.35pm after a 999 call from Yeolmbridge, near Launceston, where a 70-year-old man had collapsed.

The pensioner, who was unconscious, was resuscitated by paramedics then flown to Derriford Hospital, Plymouth, where he arrived at 3.48pm - just 12 minutes after the air ambulance left the scene.

Today's 20,000th response to a 999 call was just the latest of more than 1,000 missions flown each year by a vital service that has captured the hearts and minds of the people of Cornwall.

Each year, they dig deep to help raise around £1.5 million to keep the state-of-the-art helicopter airborne. From its hangar at Newquay Airport, it can reach any part of the county within 20 minutes, and the Isles of Scilly in 28 minutes.

The trail-blazing air ambulance charity was the first of 26 that now operate helicopters across the UK.

Paula Hichens, the ambulance's manager, told thisiscornwall that it owed a huge debt of gratitute to its loyal band of supporters. "The generosity of the people of Cornwall is absolutely outstanding," she said.

"About a third of the £1.5 million comes to us in the form of legacies - most of them from Cornish people. For nearly 20 years, we have also run a Cornwall air care lottery. We now have over 19,000 members each paying £1 a week."

Further finance is provided by donations and the proceeds of fund-raisers organised by people and communities across Cornwall, as well as investments by the charity and grants from local authorities.

Ms Hichens added: "Cornish people have stood by us for 21 years and, quite simply, we would not have been able to answer today's 20,000th 999 call without their support."

The paramedics involved in the historic call-out were full-time air crew Mark Fuszard and Mick McLachlan.

Andrew Kirchin, an Exeter-based communications manager for the South Western Ambulance Service, said: "As a trust, we are proud that our highly-qualified clinicians are able to provide such a fantastic service to those that live remotely, with the help of a helicopter."