New born baby girl dies after car crash while mum fights on

By Shaun Milne & Amanda MacMillan

UPDATE: A NEW born baby girl has died and her mother left seriously hurt in hospital after a horrific car accident on her way to give birth to the child.

The heavily pregnant woman and what was thought to be her partner were on their way to have the baby induced when the accident happened.

They were left trapped and badly injured when they southbound Honda Civic was involved in a collision with a Volkswagen Golf half a mile north of Hawick.

Three ambulances, two fire and rescue crews and police were scrambled to the scene at 8.22am after witnesses reported smoke coming from one of the cars following the accident on the A7 Edinburgh to Carlisle Road.

The mum to be was freed from the car by fire-fighters using hydraulic cutting equipment and raced to Borders General Hospital in Melrose.

She gave birth to a baby girl at hospital, but the girl did not survive the trauma and died soon after.

Baby and mum fight for life after Borders road crash

By Shaun Milne

A WOMAN and her new born child were fighting for life in hospital today (mon) after she gave birth soon after being cut free from a horror car crash in the Borders.

The pregnant woman and what was thought to be her partner were trapped in their southbound Honda Civic after it was involved in a collision with a Volkswagen Golf half a mile north of Hawick.

Three ambulances, two fire and rescue crews and police were scrambled to the scene at 8.22am after witnesses reported smoke coming from one of the cars following the accident on the A7 Edinburgh to Carlisle Road.

The pregnant woman was freed from the car by fire-fighters using hydraulic cutting equipment and raced to Borders General Hospital in Melrose.

Lothian and Borders Police said the woman gave birth to her child but said both were in a “serious condition”.

Tragic teenager Denise Murray named as pregnant teenage Swine Flu death victim

By Michael McLeod

THE young Scots mum-to-be who died from swine flu only a month away from having her first child was named today as Denise Murray.

Locals revealed the 17-year-old had been expecting her first son or daughter before she contracted the H1N1 virus which claimed her life on Wednesday.

Her unborn child tragically did not survive either despite frantic attempts by staff at Borders General Hospital to save them.

Bubbly

The tragedy stunned her tiny Borders hometown of Tweedbank as locals tried to take in the news that she had slipped away on a ward not even a mile from the family home which had been so looking forward to the new arrival.

Her parents, David and Sandra, and their five other children, did not appear to be at home as the tragedy swept the town.

She left behind five brothers; Matthew, seven, Gavin, 13, Greig, 18, Craig, 19, and Danny, 21.

But devastated neighbours spoke of the teenager’s “bubbly” personality and recalled how she stood out from the crowd with her lust for life.

Pregnant 17 year old Borders girl dies from Swine Flu virus

by Shaun Milne

PREGNANT women across Scotland were urged to get vaccinated against the swine flu virus last night after a 17-year-old mum-to-be became its latest victim.

In a statement issued just before 1pm, the Scottish Government confirmed that the teenage girl – who was identified only as being from the Borders area – had been suffering from the H1N1 virus and died within the past 24-hours.

No further details were issued officially, but it was understood a report had gone to the Procurator Fiscal charged with investigating all sudden deaths in the area.

She was the 15th person in Scotland to die from the virus. 

Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon  broke off from the SNP’s annual gathering at Inverness to plead with all expectant women to seek help confirming that they are among those most at risk.

With the first supplies of the vaccine due to be issued later this month, she said they would be prioritised because of their conditions.

Schoolboy’s campaign gets backing from world-renowned scientist

The McLaughlin family (left to right, Ryan, Darren, Alan and Kirsten) meet Cathy Jamieson (centre) at the parliament

By Cara Sulieman

A SCOTS schoolboy campaigning for better treatment for MS suffers like his mum has received the backing of a top scientist.

Plucky Ryan McLaughlin, 14, from Glasgow, started a campaign to get the Scottish Government to supply free Vitamin D supplements to Scots after claims a lack of sunshine in this country made the condition worse.

His mum Kirsten has battled the disease for years.

Now Oliver Gillie, a respected medical writer and researcher who has been working on research into the benefits of Vitamin D for some years, is lending his support to the teenager.

New life in the fast lane

The McAuley family; Michael, Evan, Kerri and Chloe (left to right)

By Cara Sulieman

A NEW mum gave birth on the hard shoulder during rush hour traffic after she failed to get to the hospital in time.

Kerri McAuley, 31, was five days overdue when she started to get contractions in the early hours of the morning.

An hour later they were getting closer together and her husband, Michael, 33, prepared to take her to hospital.

But as they were getting ready to leave their house in Polmont, Kerri started to worry that the baby was well on its way and asked Michael to call the ambulance.