A TERMINALLY ill cancer patient has undergone an emergency Caesarean in a bid to save the life of her baby son.

The child was today fighting for his life in Blackburn Infirmary after being delivered more than three months premature during the operation.

The 40-year-old American woman, was admitted to the hospital's intensive care unit last week.

She is believed to have been holidaying with her husband and other family members but became very poorly.

Doctors became worried for the baby's safety but were unable to get permission from the mother to carry out a Caesarean because of her condition.

A hospital spokesman said: "After careful consideration we had agreed with her family to seek the guidance of the High Court on Monday.

"However, on Saturday night the doctors became concerned when the mother's condition deteriorated and it became apparent there would not be time to go to court.

"Accordingly the baby was delivered as an emergency. Both mother and child survived the operation."

On Friday, before the birth, a relative of the woman telephoned the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children with concerns for the unborn baby and the charity's legal advisor, Paul Conrathe, was contacted.

John Smeaton, national director for the society, said: "She was 23 weeks pregnant when she had to go into hospital. She was on a ventilator and there appeared to be questions as to whether the ventilation could be continued and whether they could do anything to save the life of the child so we intervened. A baby boy was delivered on Saturday night.

"He is doing as well as possible in the circumstances and we hope people will be praying for him and his mother.

"The family are thrilled and we are proud to have been involved and wish them well."