Baby boy born between Manchester Airport and Gatwick Airport

The parents of a baby boy born in mid-air on a First Choice flight from Manchester Airport to Heraklion, Crete are celebrating his return to good health

His mother, Nicola Delemere, aged 31, was 25 weeks pregnant when her waters broke on board the plane.

The flight was diverted but Mrs Delemere gave birth to tiny Alfie, who weighed just 1lb 1oz and was having difficulty breathing, while the jet was still cruising at 30,000 feet.

Flight supervisor Carol Miller cleared Alfie's lungs with a straw and gave him mouth-to-mouth resuscitation and heart massage for half an hour to help him survive until the plane landed at Gatwick Airport, where he was taken to hospital.

But Ms Miller was modest about her achievement when speaking to press, emphasising that the flight crew on board that April 17th flight were "lucky to have the support of a retired nurse and ambulance driver on board until paramedics arrived".

Meanwhile, Alfie's health has improved after several weeks in intensive care and the airline has promised the whole family a free trip to Cuba once the baby is old enough to fly again.