Plans for Ireland’s first doctor-led helicopter emergency medical service (HEMS) to serve almost one million people in Munster have been unveiled today, writes Eoin English.

The Irish Community Air Ambulance (ICAA) service, which will be a major expansion of the Irish Community Rapid Response (ICRR) initiative established in West Cork in 2009, will be based at Cork Airport.

It is hoped to get the service in the air by next Spring.

But the team behind the life-saving service need to raise €1m to get it off the ground and up to €2m a year to keep it going.

A major fundraising drive has now been launched. You can donate online at www.communityairambulance.ie, or pledge to host community fundraising events.

You can also text the word ‘FLIGHT’ to 50300 to donate €4.