Saturday, July 14, 2012

LIFE / FAMILY - ENGLAND

One helicopter, three planes, and a car journey: How hero soldier spent 14 hours and travelled 3,500 miles to see birth of son



PUBLISHED: 16:12 GMT, 13 July 2012 | UPDATED: 07:39 GMT, 14 July 2012



As efforts to get back in time to witness the birth of a child go, one soldier's dedication in returning from Afghanistan must certainly rank highly.

Corporal Simon Mercer took four flights from Afghanistan to reach his wife's hospital bedside in just 14 hours.

And the hero soldier arrived in the nick of time to see her give birth to the couple's first child.


Surprise: Corporal Simon Mercer had taken two weeks off in August to witness the birth of his son, but baby Heath Mercer arrived early

The 30-year-old, who is currently serving in his fifth grueling tour of Afghanistan, had planned two weeks leave in August so he could witness his baby being born.

But instead, the soldier received a call to say wife Karen, 35, had gone into labour nine weeks early.

In a Herculean effort to return him in time, military officials scrambled a helicopter and flew him to a waiting plane which took him to another airfield.

Simon was then ushered on to a second plane before flying to another airstrip, where he met up with an aircraft taking troops home for leave.


Dedication: Corporal Simon Mercer said he was 'incredibly proud' of his wife for giving birth to the couple's first son

The flight touched down at RAF Brize Norton, Oxon, where a car was waiting on the runway to collect Simon and take him straight to Salisbury District Hospital.

He finally reached the maternity ward 14 hours later - at 3pm on June 10 - where midwives were giving Karen, an administrator, drugs to delay the labour.

Baby Heath was born at 12.35pm the next day after a three-day labour and weighed just 3lb 3oz. He was immediately rushed into an incubator.

Tearful Karen, who lives in Bulford Camp, Wiltshire, said it had made 'all the difference' to have her husband present at the birth.


Beaming: Karen Mercer, pictured with her new baby Heath, said it made a real difference to be joined by her husband for the birth

She said: 'We had planned for the labour and were hoping that Simon would be able to take his ‘R&R’ in August as I was due on August 13.

'I had felt a few pains earlier in the day but didn’t think anything of it and was taking a booked tour of the hospital when they said I had gone into labour.

'It was such a huge shock. All I could think was that I wasn’t ready and it was way, way too early. I was so worried about the baby and whether he would be okay.

'My midwife phoned the Army and made them understand the gravity of the situation. They made the decision to send him home.

'They organised a helicopter and then three planes to bring him here. When he arrived it was just such a relief.


At his father's side: Baby Heath Mercer cuddles his dedicated dad Corporal Simon Mercer

'It was amazing for him to actually be there during labour, to hold my hand. He was completely over the moon that he had made it.

'It meant so much for him to be there and give Heath a cuddle.'

Simon, who joined the Army aged 18, is currently based in Nad Ali District in Helmand Province and has an advisory role with the Afghan National Army.

He was able to fly back to Britain following a call from a worried midwife to the Ministry of Defence’s Joint Casualty and Compassionate Centre.

The soldier, from Chelmsford, Essex, and his wife had decided not to find out the sex of their baby before the birth, which was scheduled to be on August 13.

Karen added: 'Si had been convinced that the baby was going to be a girl so it was a real surprise for him when it was a boy.'


Sleeping soundly: Little Heath Mercer is sure to be proud of his father's commitment when he is old enough to realise

Simon, who has spent the last two-and-a-half years in Afghanistan, was able to spend two weeks at home with Karen and Heath.

The new father-of-one, who returned to the war torn country three weeks ago, said: 'It was pretty kind of flash to bang the whole way through.

'I think it took about 14 hours from leaving Afghanistan to walking through the hospital doors.

'It was just surreal. You kind of add the leaving Afghanistan and being at home in such a short space of time and then, all of a sudden, instead of it being me and my wife, it’s me, my wife and my baby.

'I’m incredibly proud of my wife for how well she’s been doing and incredibly proud of the little ‘un for how well he has been fighting through.'

Karen has remained in hospital with little Health, who now weighs 4lb 9oz. The little baby is expected to go home for the first time soon.

Simon, who speaks to his wife every four days to check on his son’s progress, is due to return home from his fifth tour of Afghanistan in about three months

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