Southampton: Family in M27 crash after premature birth

Kirsty Skinner from Thornhill was discharged on Friday, having spent three days in labour with Alayah who was eventually delivered by C-section.

But the happiness at seeing her partner Jamie and their three children meeting Alayah in hospital for the first time was shattered moments later when the family were involved in the crash on the M27.

Jamie Swinfield and Kirsty Skinner said they are lucky to be alive (Image: Newsquest)

Kirsty, 31, said: “It was every mum’s nightmare. I will never be able to describe how it felt. It all happened so fast and my priority was to make sure my kids were fine.”

The 31-year-old said her pregnancy was totally normal - and when her waters broke on Saturday, September 30, she thought she just needed 'to wee'.

Instead, she was rushed to Princess Anne Hospital where she was in labour for three days.

She said: "I was 30 weeks pregnant and the doctors kept me on monitors - the baby's heart rate kept dropping."

On Tuesday, doctors intervened and delivered Alayah by Caesearan section, weighing just 2lbs 15oz and ten weeks before her December due date.

It was later found that an infection of the umbilical cord had caused the heart difficulties.

Alayah, was born on October 3 (Image: Provided)

Kirsty said: "It was petrifying at first because it was my first Caesarean. All my other kids were natural birth.

"Once it was over it was a massive relief that it had been a success."

Kirsty was allowed to go home on Friday, and her partner Jamie Swinfield brought their three children Cody, five, Noah, three, and Ava, 18 months, to meet their little sister for the first time at the hospital's intensive care unit.

Kirsty said: "It felt amazing to see everyone come. They were only able to go see the baby one by one but it was a very special time."

Having said goodbye to Alayah, the five of them went home - and at around 8pm the crash happened, between junction four with the M3 and junction five with Stoneham Way.

Emergency services responding to the crash (Image: Submitted)

Jamie, 41, described to the Echo the aftermath of the collision.

The window cleaner said: “It sounded like a bomb had gone off.

“I put the hazards on and called 999, while Kirsty and the kids were screaming.”

Kirsty soon felt extreme pain where her surgery wounds were, as the seatbelt had dug into them.

But said her priority was to make sure her children were safe.

She said: "All I could smell was smoke, but I just turned around and was seeing if my kids were all okay. With the adrenaline I didn’t care about anything else but my kids."

A nurse driving home from her shift when the crash happened stopped to help, and she looked after Kirsty before the paramedics arrived moments later.

Due to her circumstances, Kirsty was taken to Southampton General Hospital by ambulance – but thankfully, her stitches did not rupture and she only suffered minor injuries.

Jamie and their children were driven home by the kindly nurse, and despite some aches and pains, none of them needed hospital treatment.

Kirsty said: "I could never repay her enough that she stopped instead of continuing on her way home and looked after me.  I can't put into words how thankful I am to her."

Looking back now, the two parents said they feel lucky to not have lasting injury - but admit the crash left them feeling 'traumatised'.

Kirsty added: “It was a very traumatic week, the kind that makes your life flash before your eyes.”

Man charged

Police have confirmed that a 51-year-old man has been charged with failing to provide a specimen in connection with the incident.

Josselin Andre Herjean, of Satchell Lane, Hamble, has been bailed to appear before Southampton Magistrates' Court on October 26.