Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
World
Alahna Kindred

Off-duty doctor delivers baby using dental floss in middle of long-haul flight

An off-duty doctor used dental floss to deliver a baby when a woman went into labour during a long-haul flight.

Dr Stephen Ansah-Addo, a dermatology resident, was on a flight from Ghana to Dallas, Texas, when the emergency call went out on the tannoy.

A pregnant woman, whose name has only been given as GG, had gone into labour prematurely aboard United Flight UA977 last month.

Air stewards then asked passengers if a health professional was on-board, and Dr Ansah-Addo and a nurse both sprang into action.

The pair turned the area behind business class into a makeshift operation room - putting down blankets and towels.

Dr Ansah-Addo felt the baby's head an hour after the mum's contractions became more frequent.

. A pregnant woman, whose name has only been given as GG, went into labour prematurely while on United Flight UA977 (Tiani Warren / SWNS)

Video footage shows the new mum with her baby boy - after giving birth to him mid-flight.

Paramedics were ready to meet the plane when it touched down at Dulles International Airport after an almost 12-hour journey.

Fellow passenger Tiani Warren, 47, who witnessed the drama unfold from across the aisle, described the birth as a "total miracle."

She said: "I was just having a nap when I started hearing these loud groans from further down the plane.

"I was really concerned and when I went over to investigate I saw a woman was in labour.

Paramedics were waiting for the mum and her new baby once the plane touched down in Dallas, Texas (Tiani Warren / SWNS)
A off duty doctor and nurse helped deliver the baby mid-flight (Tiani Warren / SWNS)

"It caused a bit of panic, and the pilot was considering making an emergency landing in Bermuda so GG could make it to a hospital.

"But, as it turned out, there was no time for that, and she had her baby right there and then.

"Thankfully an off duty dermatologist and a nurse were on board to deliver the baby. I don't know what would have happened if it hadn't of been for their professionalism.

"It was certainly an eventful flight, and I'm just so relieved the birth was relatively smooth.

"What shocked me was when they didn't have anything to cut the umbilical cord with because scissors aren't allowed on board - so they used dental floss!

"The whole thing was just so crazy, but it all turned out okay in the end. I wish GG and her baby boy all the best for the future."

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.