A COUPLE whose son was born at 31 weeks by emergency caesarean at Salisbury District Hospital will be taking part in this year’s Walk for Wards to thank the team who helped save his life.

Natalie Winter and her partner Gary will be pushing four-month-old Oliver in his buggy around the 5k course at Wilton House on July 2 to raise funds for the Stars Appeal.

Oliver spent several weeks on the neonatal intensive care unit after being born on January 26.

Natalie said: “He was there for about five weeks and he was so well looked after, we couldn’t have asked for better nurses.

“He gradually progressed from being in an incubator to a hot cot and then went into kangaroo care where I could be with him.

“During that time, my partner was able to stay in the parents accommodation so we could be a family.”

Staff taught the couple how to care for Oliver and give him first aid, training which would turn out to save his life not just once but twice in the coming months.

“It was the very day we went home that Oliver suffered a bad reflux episode,” Natalie said. “He had shallow breathing and then went unconscious.

“My partner put the training into practice and gave our baby, weighing 4lbs, CPR, it saved his life.”

Oliver was taken back into hospital for a further two weeks before being able to come home again.

Natalie, from Shaftesbury, said: “The next time it happened, it was 1.20am - I woke up to hear him refluxing, I picked him up and he went unconscious. I swiped everything off on top of the drawers and gave him CPR.

“We again went to hospital by ambulance and stayed in for a week.

“We have now been home for a couple of months and he is thriving and doing so well.

“We cannot thank the NICU unit enough for the care, love and support they gave to our precious boy.”

* This year marks the tenth anniversary of Walk for Wards.

Each year around 2,000 people take part in the event choosing to walk either a 10k, 5k or 3k route around the beautiful grounds of Wilton Estate.

All walkers get a free picnic lunch, medal and the chance to enjoy the grounds and adventure playground after the walk. Entry is free, but all walkers must register in advance and pledge to raise a minimum sponsorship of £15 per person.

To sign up or for more information visit starsappeal.org