DRF (German Air Rescue) has come to the rescue of a premature baby, who was stranded with her mother on Palma de Majorca.

As the baby’s family did not have the funds to pay for the repatriation to Germany and their health insurance did not cover the costs either, DRF carried out the mission free of charge.

Leonie Bennigsen was born completely out of the blue on August 15 this year, weighing a mere 625 grammes. Her mother Jessica was on holiday in Majorca at the time, with her husband and 10-year-old daughter.

Physicians at the neonatal intensive care unit in the Majorcan hospital successfully fought for the baby’s life but mother and daughter were urged to stay for another few weeks, if not months.

Mr Bennigsen and his older daughter flew back to Germany but were desperate to be close to the other half of their family. The family’s health insurance covered Leonie’s hospital costs in Majorca but, due to German law, could not pay the costs of transportation to Germany.

On October 26, DRF became aware of the situation after a German broadcasting station reported on the case.

Said Steffen Lutz, general manager of DRF: “Thirty years ago, DRF made it its objective to provide quick and qualified assistance to people in need. Thus, we decided to transport Leonie and her mother to Germany, at our own expense, with an experienced medical team onboard our own ambulance aircraft.”

On November 12, the German air rescue ambulance, a Lear 35A, lifted off from its home base at Karlsruhe/Baden-Baden airport for Majorca. A paediatrician, a neonatal intensive care nurse, a paramedic and two pilots were onboard.

After landing, the medical crew drove to the hospital to take over care of the infant from the Majorcan physicians in charge. They were airborne again by late afternoon, with the baby being transported in an incubator. Upon arrival in Germany, an ambulance took the baby and DRF medical crew to a hospital in Dortmund.