A DRAMATIC mercy mission saved the life of an unborn baby boy.

Pregnant Lynda Staddon was airlifted to hospital by coastguard helicopter after plans to give birth at home started to go wrong.

The teacher from West Dorset was in danger of losing her baby after complications set in.

The Portland Coastguard helicopter was scrambled and airlifted Lynda from a car park at West Bexington to Dorset County Hospital in Dorchester yesterday.

Lynda, who later safely delivered a healthy baby boy, praised the quick actions of the helicopter crew for getting her to hospital in the nick of time.

She also pledged support for the campaign to save the Sikorsky 561, which is threatened with being moved from its Portland base.

She said her ordeal proved that its life saving role is still desperately needed. The helicopter may be moved from the island to Lee-on-Solent in Hampshire.

Single mum Lynda, 31, said: "The midwife was concerned about my baby, because he seemed to be in a lot of distress and I was quite close to giving birth. I can't remember much about the journey, because I was too busy concentrating on my contractions.

"It only took about 10 minutes, but it was scary.

"Thank goodness for the helicopter. I don't really want to think about what would have happened if I had not got to hospital so quickly.

"It is a life-saver and I can't believe that people would think about taking it away from this area where it is obviously needed."

She also praised staff at the County Hospital for delivering her baby safely.

Lynda's midwife alerted paramedics after the unborn baby's heart rate suddenly plummeted during labour.

They scrambled the coastguard helicopter to take her to hospital because the air ambulance was too small for the baby to be born on board.

The crew landed at West Bexington beach just seven minutes after being called out and flew Lynda straight to the accident and emergency department at Dorchester. Her baby boy, who has yet to be named, was delivered at midday and weighed in at 8lb 4oz.

The helicopter's pilot, Kevin Balls, 43, from Portland, said: "We got a report that the baby was in a distressed state.

"We picked mother and baby up and whisked them off to accident and emergency.

"It was a close call and I think the mother was in quite a bit of pain.

"But I am very glad both mother and baby are doing well and that we got them to hospital so quickly."