Baby Boy Born Mid-Air on Coastguard Helicopter Flight!
Jennifer Trevithick went into labour on December 4th and was set for a flight from the Isles of Scilly to Royal Cornwall Hospital in Truro. But fate had other plans – baby Ebbyn made his dramatic entrance during the helicopter journey!
From Birth Centre to Emergency Airlift
Jen, a brewer from St Mary’s, started contractions around 9pm. She headed to the island’s birth centre with partner Hayden. When her waters broke, midwives spotted meconium, triggering an emergency call and the Coastguard’s immediate involvement.
A Coastguard chopper from Newquay was dispatched. Though the trip was just 25 minutes, Jen sensed the birth was imminent. Halfway through, Ebbyn’s head began to crown.
“All I could think was this baby’s coming, and there is no way of stopping it,” Jen recalled. “I was in such a birthing bubble, I knew what was happening but I couldn’t talk or anything. All I knew was I didn’t have any worries.”
She added: “There wasn’t a single moment I felt scared, my body did what it needed in the safest way.”
Chopper Birth 15 Feet Above Hospital Helipad
Onboard, a medic and midwife provided expert support throughout. Just after 2am, hovering some 15ft over the hospital helipad, baby Ebbyn arrived.
Jen described the surreal experience: “At the end, holding Ebbyn in my arms, I wasn’t quite sure where we were or what was happening. But it felt quite fun in a way.”
Rare but Not Unheard of!
Ebbyn is the third baby from the Scilly Isles born on a Coastguard helicopter. Jen, who was herself airlifted during her first pregnancy, admitted she hadn’t realised how unusual the birth was at the time.
“Being flown to hospital for childbirth isn’t unheard of here, so we assumed births in the air must be quite common,” she said.
Both mum and baby are healthy and thriving. Jen is eager to return to her Coastguard work next year.
“The whole time I felt so safe,” she added. “When you hear that helicopter sound, you know someone’s getting top-level care – it’s a positive sound. If it wasn’t for the Coastguard, we wouldn’t have this lovely story to tell. We’re so grateful to them and all the staff involved.”
