FOLLOWING a report in last week’s Post, a woman who was recently airlifted to hospital has got in touch to update readers on her condition, and has extended thanks to those who helped her during the frightening time.

The Post reported that a female casualty was airlifted from Holsworthy’s football pitch on the evening of Monday, October 17, with crews from Bude Coastguard, as well as the arrival of the Rescue 924 coastguard helicopter from Newquay also being on the scene.

The lady was Katherine Birch, who was pregnant with her fourth child at the time. Katherine, who lives in the Holsworthy area with her husband Terry and their children Warrick, Harley and Neeve, was living with a condition that affects pregnant women called placenta praevia, when the placenta finds itself in the way of the baby and does not allow the mother to give birth naturally.

On the night of October 17, Katherine began bleeding very heavily, and the emergency services were called to assist. A co-responder unit from Holsworthy was the first to arrive on the scene, followed by paramedics and an ambulance crew. Since Katherine was losing too much blood, it was decided that she should be airlifted to hospital. With the air ambulance already in operation elsewhere, coastguard crews were called in to assist.

She told the Post: “We knew that I had to get to hospital as soon as possible, as we weren’t only at risk of losing the baby, but we were also at risk of losing me as well.”

Katherine was airlifted to the Royal Devon and Exeter hospital that evening. Through an emergency c-section, Katherine gave birth to a healthy baby boy, and, fortunately, both mother and baby got through the night.

Kai Phoenix Birch was born at 8.12pm. Although he was kept in the neo-natal unit for six days, due to being born four weeks premature, Katherine has reported that they are now both home and well.

She said: “We would like to take this opportunity to say a massive thank you to the emergency services, as without their help neither myself or baby Kai would be here.”