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Baby born on south west helicopter

HM Coastguard helicopter. (courtesy: Greg Caygill hellophoto.co.uk)

Coastguard called when boy insists on arriving early

A baby wouldn't wait when his mother needed to get to hospital, and has been born on board a helicopter.

South West Ambulance Service called the coastguard at 7 p.m. on Saturday to help a woman who'd gone into labour on the Isles of Scilly. The parents needed to be evacuated to the mainland. A helicopter from Newquay was scrambled, but the boy was in such a hurry to enter the world, he did so mid-air, with the help of midwife and aircrew.

Jonathan Mustard, Aeronautical Operations Controller for HM Coastguard says: “We are absolutely thrilled and delighted to have played a part in the birth and are pleased that mum and baby are doing well. It’s rare to hear that our helicopter launched with 7 people on board, but were preparing to land with 8. Congratulations Mum and Dad!”

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