A BARNSLEY accountancy firm has chosen Yorkshire Air Ambulance as their charity of the year after their co-worker’s father was rescued by them back in 2018.

Nicola Hawden, a partner at Harris and Co who are based on Huddersfield Road, has close links to the family after her father, Royston’s Stephen Croft, was airlifted by Yorkshire Air Ambulance after suffering a cardiac arrest at the Barnsley versus Burton Albion game.

He collapsed in front of 11,000 fans at Oakwell before he was taken to Sheffield’s Northern General Hospital for treatment.

In the last year, the air ambulance service has responded to 223 incidents across the county - including 38 in Barnsley.

Nicola said: “We are absolutely delighted to announce that our team have chosen Yorkshire Air Ambulance as our Charity of the Year for 2022/23.

“The YAA is a wonderful charity that provides a life-saving service to the people of Yorkshire and, having experienced first-hand the benefit the charity has for patient outcomes following my own father’s collapse at Oakwell back in 2018, the YAA personally has a special place in my heart.

“All our team are looking forward to getting involved with lots of fundraising events to help raise money for such a worthwhile cause.”