A plane flying from Nigeria to
London had to make an emergency landing on a Spanish island when a woman gave
birth in business class.
Ujunwa Jennifer Eneh, who turned 31
today, went into labour at 36,000 feet while flying from her native Nigeria to
London, despite only being 26 weeks pregnant.
The pilot of the British Airways
flight was forced to make an emergency landing in Palme de Mallorce, in the
Balearic Islands and the mother and baby, which has been called Michael, were
rushed to the island's Son Espases hospital.
While Mrs Eneh will soon be
discharged, Michael is being kept in the intensive care unit will likely remain
in hospital until August, his original due date, so he can develop properly.
Mrs Eneh said: 'I don't have any
other option than to stay here on the island. My baby needs me to just hang
in
there for him until it is safe for him to come home with me.'
The mother-of-two was travelling
with her one-year-old daughter Nnedinma and was planning to catch a connecting
flight from London to Washington, USA, where she was taking the little girl for
vacation.
 |
|
The woman was rushed to hospital
after the plane landed on the island of Palma de Mallorca, pictured. Both the
mother and baby are said to be stable
|
When her water broke, fellow
passengers alerted the cabin crew who put out a call for doctors over the
intercom. A female doctor, currently unidentified, was onboard and able to
oversee the birth with the help of flight crew, who are trained in birthing
procedures.
When her water broke, the housewife
at first refused to believe she had gone into labour so early. The cabin crew
called on an unknown female doctor, who was also a passenger on the plane, to
carry out the delivery on a flatbed in the Boeing 777's business class section.
Mrs Eneh said: 'I just wasn't
thinking that I could be in labour, I couldn't imagine it. When the doctor told
me that the baby was coming I went into total shock, I can't really remember, I
wasn't able to think clearly.'
Once the plane had touched down,
mother and baby were raced to hospital where they are said to be stable.
Mrs Eneh said: 'I am fine and
healthy and the doctor said that Michael is doing pretty well, that it's
looking good and he is trying to survive.'
Her husband, KC, is an estate agent
in Nigeria and is now scurrying to get a visa so he can travel to be with his
wife and children. Mrs Eneh said she had never thought the baby would come so
early, or would not have attempted travelling.
Under BA regulations, pregnant woman
can fly on their planes until the end of their 36th week, or 32nd week if
carrying more than one baby.
Once the emergency was dealt with,
the plane continued on to the UK, arriving only thirty minutes late.
A spokesman for British Airways
said: 'Our cabin crew, who are trained in birthing procedures, assisted with
the delivery of a baby on board our flight from Abuja.
'The Captain diverted the aircraft
to Palma so that mum and baby could be taken to hospital.
'We are in touch and will continue
to provide any support and help we can.
'We wish the mother and her little
one all the very best.'
-dailymail
0 Comment:
Post a Comment