Welsh legend Bonnie Tyler has been paying tribute to Wales Air Ambulance as the Charity
marks its 25 th anniversary.
The 74-year-old, who became an international sensation in the 1980s with her hit ‘Total
Eclipse of the Heart’ recently visited the lifesaving services headquarters in Dafen, Llanelli.
She said: “Wales Air Ambulance is remarkable, over 56,000 missions carried
out and countless lives saved over the years.
“It’s just wonderful to have the opportunity to come and visit everyone to say thank you, and
Happy Birthday Wales Air Ambulance, you are amazing!”
She continued: “This is not the first time I’ve visited the Dafen base, I was invited
along about ten years ago by the then Prince of Wales, now His Majesty, The King, as I am a
Prince’s Trust Ambassador.
“I got to meet some of the patients who had benefited from the service. So, it’s wonderful to
return and see how things have evolved since my last visit.”
The star climbed into the helicopter and sat chatting with clinicians, listening intently as they
described the level of critical care they provide to patients.
Bonnie said: “I met Matt, Henry and Kieran who had carried out two missions by the time I
arrived.
“They were so generous with their time, explaining to me what they do and showing all the
onboard kit.
“I was surprised to see how much they can squeeze in such a little area, they are like a mini
emergency department which can travel by air or road.”
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.
Bonnie said: “This base visit has reminded me how important this service is and how
extraordinary the people of Wales are helping support it.
“The fundraisers are outstanding; they help raise millions each year and do extraordinary
challenges.”
She added: “I hope that I never need the air ambulance but isn’t it great to know that it is
there if I do! That’s why it is so important to support it. Long may it continue to save lives.”
Bonnie’s career has spanned five decades, her record-breaking album Faster Than the Speed
of Night— resulted in her being the first British female artist to debut at number one on the
UK Albums Chart.
2026, is shaping up to be a special year for Bonnie, her collaboration with David Guetta
and Hypaton saw their single ‘Together’ storm the dance and radio charts in Europe and
South America. She also received a Spotify Billions Club plaque for ‘Total Eclipse of the
Heart’.
It’s 50 years since the release of Lost in France and to mark the occasion Bonnie is going on
the road, with her Jubilee Tour arriving at the Utilita Arena in Cardiff, on Saturday, 21 March
2026.
Emma Grant, Wales Air Ambulance’s Public Affairs Lead said: “Bonnie Tyler is one
of Wales’ cultural icons, and we are grateful for her championing our Charity as we mark our
25 th anniversary.
“Like Bonnie, Wales Air Ambulance is a Welsh success story. We are here because of the
people of Wales; we rely on our supporters to enable us to continue to save lives.
“We are hugely grateful to Bonnie for taking time to visit our headquarters in
Dafen and for shining a light on our service, just weeks before the release of her new single
and the start of her European tour. We cannot thank her enough. Diolch yn fawr!”
Bonnie sitting inside the Wales Air Ambulance helicopter with Kieran and
Henry.
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