A Chinese nurse has garnered widespread praise for her heroic actions in saving the life of a premature baby born mid-flight. The incident occurred on August 3, during a Southern Airlines flight from Haikou in Hainan province to Beijing. The baby’s mother, who was only 25 weeks pregnant, unexpectedly went into labor in the airplane’s restroom.
The mother, surnamed Zhang, was traveling with her four-year-old daughter to meet her husband in Beijing when she gave birth prematurely. Chen Shanshan, a nurse from the neonatal department at Hainan Provincial People’s Hospital, responded immediately after flight attendants asked if there was any medical assistance on board.
Chen quickly assessed the situation and found that the tiny, palm-sized baby was still wrapped in the fetal membrane. Assisted by two doctors from the same hospital, Chen carefully tore the membrane to allow the baby to breathe. However, the newborn was in critical condition, showing no signs of crying, breathing, or a pulse.
Recognizing the severity of the situation, Chen began performing emergency CPR on the infant. She requested a warm water bag from the cabin crew to help maintain the baby’s body temperature, which is crucial for premature infants who are at high risk of hematosepsis and other life-threatening conditions.
After 90 tense minutes of chest compressions, the baby’s heartbeat and breathing stabilized. The pilot made an emergency landing in Changsha, Hunan province, to ensure the mother and baby could receive further medical care. Chen continued CPR until the baby was safely transferred to a hospital in Changsha.
“It was only when I saw the baby taken into the rescue room that I realized my arms were numb,” Chen later recalled.
The baby’s father rushed to the hospital upon hearing of his daughter’s birth. The infant, who weighed just 820 grams at birth, gained 50 grams during her two-week stay in the hospital. Grateful for Chen’s life-saving efforts, the father expressed his deep appreciation in a video message, saying, “We will tell our child, and she will remember you forever.”
Chen, modest about her actions, credited the cabin crew and the two doctors for their vital assistance during the emergency. The story has since gone viral on mainland social media, with many praising Chen for her dedication and quick response in a critical situation.
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