The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
High life
Crew thanked after birth in sky
An Inverness mother has thanked everyone who helped in the birth of her son who was born in a Coastguard helicopter at 1,400 feet.
Torran MacDonald was born above Penzance in Cornwall on Saturday night, weighing 7lb 8oz, after his mother, Alicia, had gone into labour while visiting the Isles of Scilly.
Mrs MacDonald had been on the islands to conduct the ceremony for a friend’s wedding
“Halfway through the journey she had her baby”
and went into labour earlier than expected.
There was not a midwife on the islands on Saturday night, so the Coastguard was asked by the South West Ambulance Service to fly Mrs MacDonald and her husband Sandy to the mainland.
T h e N e w q u a y Coastguard helicopter was scrambled, collected a midwife, touched down at St Mary’s Airport, picked up Mr and Mrs MacDonald then began the trip to the Royal Cornwall Hospital in Truro.
However, Torran was in such a hurry he decided to make an appearance on board the aircraft. At 8.53pm, with the help of the midwife Linda Benson and aircrew, the healthy baby boy was born.
Ms Benson said: “I got on the helicopter and we went out and they briefed me on the way out, and the lady was waiting in a land ambulance.
“So I went out and tested her and everything was good to travel so we decided to go.
“We thought we might make it, but we didn’t and halfway through the journey she decided to have her baby.
“Her waters went, and it all increased and she had her baby.”
Mrs MacDonald said Torran was a younger brother for sister Fearne.
“Torran is doing fine and we’d like to thank the Coastguard, the midwife and the midwifery team at the hospital,” she said.
Jonathan Mustard, aeronautical operations controller for HM Coastguard, said: “This is the second time that a baby has been born on board a Coastguard helicopter. The last one was born over Lunna Holm, Shetland in December 2012.
“It’s rare to hear that our helicopter launched with seven people on board but were preparing to land with eight.
“Congratulations to mum and dad.”