A British woman is stranded in Tenerife with her infant son after giving birth five weeks early while on her 'babymoon'. Chantelle Ali, 33, was enjoying the last day of her holiday with her partner Ben Major when she started experiencing contractions at just 35 weeks.
After being rushed to hospital by hotel staff and spending a full day in labour, she gave birth to her son Rico at 7:08pm on July 12. Almost two weeks later, Chantelle and Rico are still unable to get home as they go through a lengthy process to get an emergency travel document for their baby.
Living out of a carrier bag
The mum, from Gloucester, says that she has been living out of a carrier bag in an apartment in Playa de las Américas ever since, as her suitcase is stranded at the airport. She said: “It has been a highly emotional and mentally draining experience. Not just to have a baby prematurely but in a foreign country is very scary.”
She added: “Google Translate saves me basically. There are a few nurses who can speak English but there are obviously a lot that can’t. It is always worrying because you don’t know if you are getting all the correct information.”
Premature labour and hospital stay
Chantelle says her water started leaking two days before the birth but, with such a short time left of the trip, she planned to go to hospital when she got home. They had been out on a boat trip on Saturday and, once they got back to the hotel, she started having contractions - which she assumed were Braxton Hicks.
When the pain didn’t improve, Chantelle went down to reception and asked them to call an ambulance, which took her to Our Lady of Candelaria University Hospital. Rico, who was named before his birth, was intended to be delivered by C-section in England but was instead delivered with a full day’s labour, and now has a Spanish birth certificate.
Being five weeks premature, he had some breathing issues and was in the ICU receiving oxygen, where he remains. Ben had to return to the UK on their flight the next day to sort childcare for their two other children and leave their dog with a family member before returning.
Financial strain and paperwork
The hospital is far from the tourist strip, as Chantelle says it is an hour bus ride from where they get their shopping and supplies. The hospital stay is covered by her insurance, but everything else needs to be funded by them such as the £400-a-week apartment and transport.
Due to leaving their package holiday hotel a day before they were supposed to go home, Chantelle’s suitcase is also currently stuck at the airport, and it will cost £150 to get it back. This means she is living out of a carrier bag, wearing the same three dresses on repeat.
To get Rico home the family have to provide both their passports, birth certificates, MATB1 form, proof of flights, photos of the baby, hospital documents, and proof he was premature. They currently have no date of when this might be.
Support from charity
Charity Lia's Wings, which provides hospital air transfers for children, has been supporting the family. Charlotte Young, chief operating officer, said: “We've recently had the privilege of supporting two families whose babies were born prematurely while they were on holiday in Tenerife. We're continuing to support Rico's family. As soon as the necessary documentation is in place, we'll send a medical escort team to help facilitate a safe journey back to the UK and into NHS care.”
A GoFundMe appeal has been launched.
