A family caught in a dramatic medical emergency aboard the Spirit of Tasmania has thanked fellow passengers for their patience after the ferry was forced to return to port when a woman went into pre-term labour.
The vessel, travelling from Geelong to Devonport yesterday, had to turn back when the 28-week pregnant passenger required urgent medical attention.
Passengers reported hearing an announcement over the ship’s PA system asking if there were any obstetricians on board, before the decision was made to return to Geelong.
The family shared images with Pulse showing the woman being transferred into an ambulance after the ferry docked at Geelong.
“Mum and baby are doing okay,” the woman’s partner told Pulse.
“The only reason was because she went into pre-term labour at 28 weeks and required neonatal care.”
The family, who are first-time parents, later provided a positive update on the mum’s condition.
“Everything’s tracking great. Mum’s got to go for scans shortly but she’s going fine now. Fingers crossed we keep it that way and baby stays in for the whole full term,” he said.
The family expressed gratitude to the approximately 800 passengers aboard for their understanding during the emergency.
“All 3 of us are okay and glad to be with doctors … myself and [my] partner being first time parents,” the partner said.
