Prince William reveals the ‘appalling tragedies’ he has dealt with as he pays tribute to his teammates while preparing for his last day as an air ambulance pilot
PRINCE William admitted he has witnessed "appalling tragedies" during his time as an air ambulance pilot as he paid tribute to his hero colleagues.
Speaking ahead of his final shift with the East Anglian Air Ambulance, he revealed "there are things that cannot be unseen".
The Duke of Cambridge said: "As a team, we travel to some very daunting incidents and we have been though some incredibly tough times together, witnessing some appalling tragedies.
"I now know though that there are things that cannot be unseen and experiences that our first responders deal with on a daily basis that they will carry with them for life."
Once dubbed "work-shy Will", the 35-year-old - who has spoken fondly about his normal job - will serve as a full time royal from September as the Duke of Edinburgh retires.
He and Kate will move their family to Kensington Palace in the autumn, with Prince George to begin at £6,000-a-term Thomas' School in Battersea, and little sister Princess Charlotte to start nursery.
The Duke posed for photos with his teammates before beginning a night shift at Cambridge Airport.
Speaking to the Eastern Daily Press, he said: "One of the first call outs I made was to a young man who had committed suicide.
"It was an incredibly tough day and had a profound effect on all of us, not least in my determination now to draw attention to this issue.
"Another rescue that sticks in my mind was to a young man who was involved in a road accident.
"His uncle in the car with him sadly didn’t survive, and I was sure that from what we were faced with he wouldn’t either.
"But thanks to the skills of our medical team he is alive today.
"We were first on scene and in such circumstances we all had to pitch in to fight to save the young man's life.
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"It is days like this, when you know you have made a difference, that give you the determination to keep going."
The Prince also spoke about the emotional impact his work has had on him.
He told mental health charity mag CALMzine in April: "For me, the tipping point came when I saw the impact of suicide through my work as a helicopter pilot with the East Anglian Air Ambulance.
"My first call out was to a male suicide and I was told there were five suicides or attempted suicides every day in East Anglia alone.
"When I looked into it I was shocked by how bad this situation is - suicide is the biggest killer of men under 45 in the UK - which is absolutely appalling."
Along with Prince Harry, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have been working for the Heads Together campaign, which works to dispel the stigma surrounding mental health.
Prince William has also revealed that Diana's death prompted him to speak out about the issue.
The dad-of-two said: “I have my reasons for getting involved with mental health with what happened with my mum when I was younger. I still feel the shock within me.”
Will joined the air ambulance in March 2015 and, after training, flew his first mission in the July.
His team of specialist doctors and paramedics treat patients across Beds, Cambs, Norfolk and Suffolk and can reach any spot in the region within 25 minutes.
When on duty he will have been required to land in unusual spots which can include gardens, car parks and even beaches.
SMASH LAD HAILS PRINCE
THE teenager Prince William recalled saving paid tribute to him yesterday.
Apprentice carpenter Jack, who did not give his surname, broke almost every bone in his body in a car crash and was in a coma for three weeks.
Jack, now 19, from Littleport, near Ely, has no recollection of the 2015 horror which saw his uncle Phillip Beeton, left, die at the scene.
Jack said: “If it wasn’t for Prince William and the East Anglia Air Ambulance team I wouldn’t be alive.
“I just want to say thanks to him and to all of them for what they did. The work they do is amazing.”
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