Crew save baby born at 30,000ft

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

Little Alfie was born when 25 weeks pregnant 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, before he was transferred to hospital in the family’s home town of Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire.

The dramatic incident happened in April but the Delemeres have decided to talk about it now Alfie has left hospital weighing 5lbs 5oz. Stewardess Ms Miller said: “I am delighted to learn Alfie is going home after surviving against all odds.”

Alfie is the first baby to be born on board in the airline’s 20-year history.