Paramedic hailed 'angel of God' for saving baby's life

But today Shadrach is a healthy toddler thanks to paramedic Rob Bentley. The London Ambulance Service worker gave Shadrach resuscitation which restarted the heart of the tiny infant, now 19 months old.

Mrs Kedey, from Dagenham, told the Standard that Mr Bentley was "an angel from heaven".

The midwife, 41, said: "Rob was a lifesaver and an angel God sent to me that day. He knew exactly what he was doing and that was crucial in giving my baby the chance of life."

The birth drama began on 21 February last year as Mrs Kedey prepared for a shopping trip when her waters broke.

Mrs Kedey said: "All that came to my mind was my baby was going to be too small, that it was going to be abnormal or stillborn." Her daughter Sethrina, four, was at home at the time and dialled 999 for her mother, who was in too much pain to lift the phone receiver.

By this stage, her neighbour had turned up as well as her husband Seth but Mrs Kedey was already in the process of giving birth.

"Shadrach was tiny and barely fitted into the palm of my hand. But he did give a little cry so I thought, 'He's alive'. I wrapped him in a blanket to keep him warm but suddenly his chest collapsed."

At that moment, paramedic Mr Bentley, 27, arrived and began resuscitating Shadrach on the dining-room table.

The delicate procedure involved Mr Bentley using his fingertips to restart the baby's tiny heart. Mrs Kedey said: "You have to be very skilled otherwise you damage the baby."

For the next three and a half months, doctors at Queen's Hospital in Romfordbattled to save Shadrach. Mrs Kedey said: "It was only later that Rob told me he'd never handled a baby that tiny before."

It is this type of dedication that the Evening Standard, leading think tank The King's Fund and NHS London is celebrating through the NHS Champions awards. These awards celebrate the achievements of London nurses, doctors, dentists, porters and other healthcare staff who go beyond the call of duty.

Do you know an NHS champion? If so, this is your chance to give them the credit they deserve.

To nominate someone log on to www.standard.co.uk/nhschampionsor print off and send the form via Freepost to: NHS Champions, The King's Fund, Freepost 23KE3007, 11- 13 Cavendish Square, London W1E 0AX.