Twins' parents thank 999 rescuers

Jamie and Kayleigh are now healthy at 11 months old

Parents whose twins were born at home 16 weeks prematurely have paid tribute to the ambulance crews to whom they owe their daughters' lives.

Sarah Wheeler, 31, from Aylesham, Kent gave birth to the first baby, Jaime, while husband Darren was making a 999 call to ambulance control.

By the time Kayleigh was born, two ambulance staff were on the scene, but both babies had to be resuscitated.

"I can't thank them enough for what they did," said Mrs Wheeler.

Paramedic John Hunnisett was the first to reach the couple's home in Coniston Drive.

"I have never seen such tiny babies out of the hospital environment - it was really quite amazing that they survived this ordeal," he said.

Journey to hospital

Mr Hunnisett was able to get Jaime breathing and cut the umbilical cord before handing her to Darren.

Ambulance technician Karen Lawrence began resuscitating Kayleigh at the house and continued in the ambulance on the 15-minute journey to the William Harvey Hospital at Ashford.

"I refused to give up and at one stage, as I put her down on the stretcher to arrange the blanket round her, I noticed that her chest started to rise," she said.

The twins, who were conceived with the help of IVF treatment, weighed 1lb 10oz and 1lb 11oz at birth but are now healthy at 11 months old.

"We were told the crew had been advised to stop resuscitation on Kayleigh - and if they had we wouldn't have her now," said Mrs Wheeler.

"I am so grateful that they carried on."