Meet the new face of Scotland’s Charity Air Ambulance (SCAA).
The friendly giant – an eight foot paramedic – will help promote the life-saving team at events up and down the country.
SCAA unveiled the new mascot at its Perth Airport base as it launched a contest to name him.
The colourful foam character wears similar kit to SCAA’s pool of six paramedics who crew the air ambulance along with two pilots.
He has been sponsored by specialist personal injury solicitors Watermans.
The company’s managing director Scott Whyte was one of the first to welcome the mascot to the team. “SCAA’s life-saving work is absolutely vital and we were keen to do anything we could do to support them over the next three years,” he said.
“It has been a pleasure to help SCAA bring this cuddly character to life so that the charity can raise awareness of the important role they play in rescuing people across the country – and the funding they need to do so.
“We look forward to our partnership developing and I am sure the new mascot will become a popular figure within SCAA and at the various events they attend each year.”
SCAA Chief Executive David Craig said the arrival of a customised mascot would help enhance the charity’s profile.
“While our frontline paramedics are out and about on their vital life-saving missions around the country, we now have an ever-ready stand-in who can help promote SCAA at events and activities throughout Scotland,” he said.
“We are extremely grateful to Watermans who have sponsored our first-ever mascot and I’m sure he will become a much-loved key member of the SCAA family for many years to come.”
Paramedic team leader John Pritchard joked it was great to have such a handsome paramedic on the team.
“The crew is already getting a little jealous about the amount of fan mail he’s sure to attract,” he said.
“He’s still to complete his basic training but we all welcome him on board and to the vital role he will play in helping fly SCAA into the future.”
An online competition to name the mascot is set to be launched during National Air Ambulance Week (from September 11) through SCAA’s scotlandscharityairambulance Facebook page.
