SHETLAND coastguard delivered a baby at 1,000 feet above the isles in the early hours of Tuesday morning.

The coastguard helicopter Romeo Charlie was called out to the isle of Unst after the local GP alerted the emergency services that an 19 year old woman was in the later stages of labour.

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The chopper was airborne by 5.40am and 20 minutes later had reached Unst to take the expecting mum and her partner to Lerwick’s Gilbert Bain Hospital.

However the baby could not wait and at 6.30am, while flying 1,000 feet above Lunna Holm o, a small outcrop off Shetland’s north mainland, a 7lb baby boy was delivered by winchman paramedic Marcus Wigfall with help from assistant winchman/ paramedic Friedie Manson.

Ten minutes later they landed in Lerwick and the young family were transported to hospital by ambulance. Both mum and the baby boy are said to be doing well.

The family requested privacy and declined to speak to the media. However, best wishes on the happy occasion are already flowing in on our Facebook site at: www.facebook.com/shetlandnews

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Wigfall, a paramedic for 12 years, said he had been trained to deliver babies.

“I have been in search and rescue for 20 odd years and have seen all manner of things, but this is the first time that I have delivered a baby on my own without any assistance from medical staff,” he said.

“We took off from Unst at about 6.20am and within a couple of minutes it became clear that we were not going to make it to Lerwick.

“It was basically left for us, myself and winch operator Friedie Manson. We prepared the aircraft and, fortunately at 6.28am she delivered a very healthy little boy.

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“As far as I am led to believe, this was a very smooth delivery. There were no complications. The baby was well and both mum and dad were in good spirits following the birth.

“It really is only now sinking in, six or seven hours after the event. At the time, my main concern was for the mum and the baby.

“You have the training and you put things into practice, but at the time you really don’t think about it, you just try to do your best,” the 40 year old winchman said.

Winch operator Friedie Manson added: “I wouldn’t say it was my most difficult mission ever, but certainly my first for having a baby in the back of the aircraft.

“I have had three occasions over the years where it was close, but we always managed to land and have the expecting mum delivered to hospital.”

Shetland coastguard watch manager Alex Dodge said: “This is the first time that a baby has been delivered on the coastguard search and rescue helicopter based at Sumburgh in the Shetland Islands.

“We would like to congratulate the mother and father on the birth of their son, who is reported to be doing well.”

The incident was coordinated by Shetland Coastguard on behalf of the Scottish Ambulance Service and ARCC Kinloss.

The happy news came on the same day the UK’s parliament’s transport select committee published a damning report into the recent restructuring of the national coastguard service.