A British mother from Gloucester, Chantelle Ali, 33, is currently stranded in Tenerife with her newborn son after an unexpected premature birth during her ‘babymoon’. Originally due in five weeks, Chantelle went into labor at just 35 weeks while enjoying the last day of her holiday with her partner, Ben Major.
After hotel staff rushed her to the hospital, Chantelle endured a full day of labor before giving birth to her son Rico at 7:08 pm on July 12. Almost two weeks later, the family remains in Tenerife, unable to return home as they navigate the complex process of obtaining an emergency travel document for their premature baby.
Chantelle shared how stressful the situation has been, saying she has been living out of a carrier bag in a small apartment in Playa de las Américas since her suitcase remains stuck at the airport. “It’s been highly emotional and mentally exhausting. Having a premature baby in a foreign country is frightening,” she said.
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Although a few nurses speak English, communication has often been a challenge, with Chantelle relying on Google Translate to understand medical updates. “We love Tenerife and visit often, but after this experience, I don’t think I want to see Tenerife again anytime soon,” she added.
Two days before the birth, Chantelle noticed her water breaking but planned to seek hospital care once back in the UK. After a boat trip on the Saturday, she began experiencing contractions she initially thought were Braxton Hicks. When the pain intensified, she alerted hotel reception, who called an ambulance to take her to Our Lady of Candelaria University Hospital.
Rico, who was intended to be born via C-section in England, arrived after a long labor and now holds a Spanish birth certificate. Due to being five weeks premature, Rico faced breathing difficulties and remains in the ICU receiving oxygen.
Ben had to return to the UK the following day to arrange childcare for their two other children and care for their dog but plans to return soon. Meanwhile, Chantelle described the hospital as being far from the tourist areas, requiring an hour-long bus ride for basic supplies.
Though the hospital stay is covered by insurance, other costs like their £400-a-week apartment and transportation are out-of-pocket. Additionally, since they left their hotel early, Chantelle’s suitcase is still at the airport, requiring £150 to retrieve it. This means she has been living with minimal belongings and limited clothing options.
Navigating local food has been another challenge, as Chantelle prefers familiar English meals. In the hospital, her diet was limited to bread rolls and bananas.
To bring Rico home, the family must provide extensive documentation, including passports, birth certificates, medical forms, flight details, photographs, and proof of prematurity—a process with no clear timeline.
Chantelle reflected on the surreal nature of the experience, stating, “It’s crazy that my son was born here, especially during the World Cup win. Every day we take one step closer to home.”
The family is receiving support from Charity Lia’s Wings, which assists with medical transfers for premature babies. Charlotte Young, the charity’s chief operating officer, confirmed ongoing support: “We’ll send a medical escort team as soon as all paperwork is completed to ensure a safe journey back to the UK for Rico and his family.”
A GoFundMe has been set up to help the family cover unexpected expenses during this difficult time.