Mid-Air Drama - Cabin Crew Deliver Baby

Mid-Air Drama - Cabin Crew Deliver Baby
Updated: 06:53, Friday August 24, 2007

A family has praised the cabin crew who delivered a tiny premature baby and then battled to keep him alive at 30,000ft during a holiday flight.

The happy familyLittle Alfie was born when his 25-weeks-pregnant mother Nicola Delemere suddenly went into labour on a First Choice Airways flight from Manchester to Crete.

Flight supervisor Carol Miller supported Mrs Delemere, 31, as the little boy was born weighing just 1lb 1oz as the plane passed over Germany.

Then Ms Miller cleared Alfie's lungs with a drinking straw before carrying out mouth-to-mouth resuscitation and heart massage for half-an-hour as the pilot diverted for an emergency landing at London Gatwick.

Alfie was taken to St George's Hospital, in Tooting, for specialist care before being transferred to hospital in the family's home town of S****horpe, Lincolnshire.

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The dramatic mid-air incident happened in April but Mrs Delemere and her husband, Dom, have decided to talk about it now Alfie has finally left hospital weighing 5lbs 5oz.

Mr Delemere, 28, said: "I would like thank everyone involved for supporting us in the air and on the ground. We can't begin to thank Carol enough for saving Alfie's life."

Stewardess Ms Miller, who is based in Manchester, said: "I am delighted to learn Alfie is going home after surviving against all odds.

"He was born very quickly and at first we weren't sure he was breathing so I just applied my medical training, cleared his lungs gently using the straw and then carried out mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.

"We were also lucky to have the support of a retired nurse and ambulance driver on board, until paramedics arrived."

Alfie is the first baby to be born on board in First Choice Airways' 20-year history.