A British mother from Gloucester, Chantelle Ali, is currently stranded in Tenerife with her newborn son after giving birth five weeks prematurely during her babymoon. At 33 years old, Chantelle was wrapping up her holiday with her partner, Ben Major, when she began experiencing contractions at just 35 weeks pregnant.
After being rushed to Our Lady of Candelaria University Hospital by hotel staff, Chantelle endured a full day of labor before giving birth to her son Rico at 7:08 pm on July 12. Originally expecting a planned C-section back in England, she instead had a natural labor and now faces the challenge of navigating Spanish healthcare and bureaucracy with her newborn, who has a Spanish birth certificate.
Almost two weeks later, Chantelle and baby Rico remain in Tenerife as they await an emergency travel document to return home. Rico, born prematurely, experienced breathing difficulties and continues to receive oxygen in the hospital’s ICU. Meanwhile, Ben has returned to the UK to arrange childcare for their two older children and care for their dog.
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Living in a rented apartment about an hour from the hospital, Chantelle describes the experience as emotionally and mentally exhausting. Her luggage remains trapped at the airport due to their early departure from the package holiday, forcing her to live out of a carrier bag and repeat the same few outfits. Language barriers add to her daily struggles, with limited English spoken by the nursing staff and reliance on Google Translate.
Chantelle shared, “It has been a highly emotional and mentally draining experience. Not just to have a premature baby but to do so in a foreign country is very scary. I don’t think I want to see Tenerife again for a long time.”
The family now face a complex process requiring numerous documents—from passports and birth certificates to hospital paperwork and proof of Rico’s premature birth—to secure travel clearance. There is currently no confirmed date for their return.
Supporting the family is the charity Lia’s Wings, which facilitates medical air transfers for children born prematurely abroad. Charlotte Young, the charity’s chief operating officer, expressed ongoing support: “As soon as all necessary documentation is finalized, we will send a medical escort team to ensure a safe journey back to the UK.”
A GoFundMe appeal has been launched to assist with the additional costs, including accommodation, transport, and airport fees.