By Phillip Zonkel
Long Beach Press-Telegram
AVALON, Calif. — The United States Coast Guard airlifted a pregnant woman facing possible life-threatening birth complications from Santa Catalina Island to the mainland Sunday morning, an official said.
The woman began going into labor about 5:30 a.m. on the island, and the Coast Guard was contacted by officials with the woman when the complications were discovered, said Coast Guard Petty Officer First Class Adam EggersCQ.
Shortly after departing Avalon at 6:30 a.m., the woman’s water broke, and the Coast Guard flight surgeon began preparing to delivery the baby in mid-air.
But upon arrival at Long Beach Airport, medical officials determined they had time to transport the woman by ambulance to Long Beach Memorial Medical Center, Eggers said.
The woman was transferred to an awaiting ambulance at the airport and rushed to the hospital.
No report on the health of the mother or if she gave birth was available from the hospital.
phillip.zonkel@presstelegram.com, 562-499-1258
City News Service contributed to this report.
Copyright 2011 Los Angeles Newspaper Group