THE parents of a baby left fighting for his life after he was born premature have praised the nurses and hospital staff for their ‘outstanding’ care in saving him.

Baby Rueben, who was 12 weeks today, was born two months early weighing 3lbs 9oz at Great Western Hospital when mum Steph Broadbank, 24, started having pains, thinking it was Braxton Hicks.

Dad Dan, 27, said: “An hour later we were delivering him, which took around three hours. He came out lifeless and they were warning us what happens with premature babies.

“There was a team of five or six people working on him because when he came out he wasn’t breathing. They whizzed him to the special baby care unit and we didn’t see him for seven hours.”

But the nurses kept the couple calm while Rueben was being cared for, but his weight then plummeted to a frightening 3lbs.

Dan, who works for Aldi, added: “It was a panic but the nurses and doctors stayed calm and kept us calm, it was so reassuring.

“It was like a home from home. Although it was a bad time it didn’t feel like it. We were reassured by every single nurse. They were all equally amazing.”

Rueben was able to come home on Dan’s birthday on April 18 and although he does not like getting changed, he is a healthy, happy bouncing baby.

The couple, who live in the town centre, also organised a charity football match with their family and friends in Purton on Saturday and have raised around £700 for GWH’s special care baby unit as a thank you.

The final score of the competitive game was 4-2 and Dan's dad Robin played with his six sons, Dan's brothers, all on the same pitch for the first time. Wendy Phillips from Purton Football Club generously provided all the food for free too.

Steph has also praised the ‘phenomenal staff.’ She said: “We want to thank everyone; every single nurse and doctor, who without them, Rueben wouldn’t been here, the delivery suite, consultants and The White Horse Birth Centre.”

To donate towards their fundraiser for GWH's special baby care unit go to: crowdfunding.justgiving.com/s-broadbank