It was so busy that six off-duty staff members were called in to help with demand.

“We operate a voluntary call back system where off-duty staff make themselves available to return to work at times of high demand. I am grateful to the staff who responded at the weekend,” said Officer Mark Mapp.

The service responds to an average of 18 calls a day, making Saturday almost twice as busy. It also represented the day when St John began oversight of Alderney’s new ambulance service.

Mr Mapp said Alderney has an “absolutely fantastic and dedicated workforce of the emergency ambulance service in Guernsey who have supported their Alderney colleagues and friends over the past three months, as well as partner organisation”.

The service will be working as an extension of the Guernsey service and has been staffed by four local people and a temporary person from Guernsey.