A SPEEDY delivery in Whitehill at the start of the new year has gone into a hospitalÕs record book as one of the fastest births in history.

William Robert Fender was born within 12 minutes of Fiona FenderÕs waters breaking at the home she shares with her husband, Kevin, and sister, Vicky McDermott, in Plantation Way.

Delivered by Kevin in the early hours of last Wednesday, William was 17 days early which meant that Fiona (30) and Kevin (33) were not prepared for their first babyÕs sudden arrival.

ÒFiona woke up at about 1-35 am and told me that she thought her waters had broken. She rushed into the bathroom and I quickly followed her. Her waters broke there and then,Ó said Mr Fender.

Mr Fender, a caretaker at Surrey Institute of Art and Design in Farnham, phoned one of the four midwives at North Hampshire Hospital in Basingstoke who had looked after his wife during the pregnancy to ask her what he should do.

ÒThe midwife told me that it was minus 10 degrees Celsius outside and the roads were very icy so we should not attempt to get to the hospital, but she said she would phone an ambulance for Fiona,Ó he said.

Mr Fender woke up his sister-in-law. ÒVicky helped me get Fiona on to our bed just before Fiona screamed ÔItÕs coming,ÕÓ he said.

Miss McDermott (17) and Mr Fender tried to use a Tens machine, which had been borrowed from Chase Community Hospital two days before, to try to ease the contractions, but there was not enough time.

ÒWe managed to get two electrodes on to my wifeÕs back before WilliamÕs head popped out, at which point I phoned the midwife again,Ó he said.

ÒShe told me the ambulance was on its way and told me what to do when I said I could see the babyÕs head.Ó

William Òpopped outÓ at 2-05 am with the cord wrapped around his neck and one of his arms. The midwife told Mr Fender to make sure that his son was breathing, as he was not crying.

ÒThe ambulance arrived at 2-15 am and one of the paramedics said ÔOh, looks like weÕre 10 minutes too lateÕ.

ÒThe crew were really great though. They were so helpful.Ó

The ambulance crew clamped WilliamÕs cord to allow Mr Fender to cut it, an experience which the new dad has described as Òreally goodÓ.

William, who weighed 6 lb 8 oz, was wrapped in a blanket by the paramedics and mother and son were taken by ambulance to the North Hampshire Hospital.

Upon arrival at the hospital William was placed in a hot tub for 24 hours because his temperature had dropped.

ÒWilliamÕs temperature had dropped but the midwife assured us that he would be okay,Ó said Mr Fender.

ÒThe hospital then told us that WilliamÕs birth had been put in the hospitalÕs record book as one of the fastest it has ever known.Ó

Mrs Fender and William were discharged from hospital last Friday.

ÒWilliam is the best new yearÕs present anyone could ask for and I am really pleased to have them both home,Ó said Mr Fender.