A grateful mum has thanked rescuers who saved her son’s life not once but twice in the space of four months.

Kate Gardner got in touch with RNAS Culdrose in Helston yesterday, on the day her son Jack celebrated his 14th birthday.

It was a day that might never happened, however, after Kate had to be rushed to hospital when she was only two thirds of the way through her pregnancy, at 28 weeks.

Stranded on the Isles of Scilly without the medical care she needed, a helicopter from Culdrose was scrambled.

It was back in the days when search and rescue squadron 771 operated out of Helston and the crew delivered her safely to Royal Cornwall Hospital - where Jack, in turn, was also safely delivered.

This was not to be the end of the crew’s relationship with the family, however.

Only four months later they were transferring Kate and a baby Jack back to the same hospital, when he developed breathing difficulties.

With Jack now a happy teenager, Kate said: “Without your help, my little man would not be here today - there are no words to explain my thanks.

“I can only say thank you for all your help.”