Bognor woman airlifted from cruise ship after going into premature labour

Helen Irvine, 38, was heading on holiday when she went into labour in the early hours of Sunday '“ 12 weeks before her due date. Emergency services on the mainland were called by the ship's doctor at 4am.

The vessel, the P&O-operated Pride of Bilbao, had left Portsmouth three hours earlier and was 30 miles off the coast of Devon. A helicopter crew from Lee-on-Solent was called into action for a far from routine rescue operation.

At 5.20am a specialist team, including a winchman, boarded the ferry, with mother and baby being taken to Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital.

Andy Huber of Brixham Coastguards said: "We received the call early on Sunday and we had to airlift the woman and her baby which was quite a complex operation. We have had one or two incidents like this before and I'm glad to say that we've heard the mother and baby appear to be doing well."

Winchman Simon O'Mahony, who rescued both mother and baby, said: "Mum was winched up in a stretcher, and the baby was put in what we call a child rescue valise to winch her up. Mum was calm and well and it went as well as it could do '“ she was a really good patient."

A clinical services manager at Royal Exeter Hospital confirmed both Mrs Irvine and her daughter had received treatment and were in good health. The family were approached for an interview but were unavailable for comment.

A spokesperson from P&O Ferries confirmed that Mrs Irvine's husband was unable to be airlifted off the ferry with his wife.

He had to continue to Bilbao, where the ship docked on Monday morning.

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