Peter James has been a paramedic for 41 years and delivered 22 babies, but delivered a baby mid air for the first time on Monday afternoon.
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The paramedic delivered baby Armando Sonny Day at 21,000 feet above Three Hummock Island on a flight from King Island.
Mr James, an intensive care flight paramedic, was on the flight with the baby’s parents, Siripa and Andrew Day, and a Royal Flying Doctor Service pilot.
Armando was delivered at 33 weeks gestation and weighs 2.1 kilograms.
He is in a critical but stable condition in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Launceston General Hospital.
Ambulance Tasmania dispatched the aircraft and paramedic to King Island after Ms Day went into labour early.
The aircraft was prevented from landing at Wynyard due to poor weather, and arrived at Launceston after a flight time of about 45 minutes.
Mrs Day said she was “worried” on the plane after Armando was delivered.
The couple had plans to travel to Burnie on November 10 before the November 24 due date.
Mr James assumed they would make it to Launceston “without delivery”, but Armando couldn’t wait.
“About five minute after take off, I noticed the contractions got stronger,” Mr James said.
“It was my first one in the air, and hopefully my last one in the air.”
Ambulance Tasmania acting chief executive Paul Templar said the delivery exhibited the professionalism and dedication of the paramedic and the pilot.
“Given the complications of the weather, to be able to arrive safely on the island, retrieve the patient, and then complete a successful delivery mid-air as well as provide the necessary care to a new born until the plane landed is simply a great effort,” Mr Templar said.
