A baby girl has become the first child born aboard Guernsey’s marine ambulance in 18 years after arriving while the vessel was making an emergency journey with her mother.

Harriet Mae Magell is one of the very few people in the world to have her place of birth registered as “the territorial waters of the Bailiwick of Guernsey” after she was delivered near Jethou before the Flying Christine III reached St Peter Port last month.

Her mother Kyla Magell went into labour two weeks early at home in Sark, just 12 hours before she had been due to travel to Guernsey for a routine prenatal appointment.

Pictured: Harriet Mae Magell is one of the very few people in the world to have her place of birth registered as “the territorial waters of the Bailiwick of Guernsey”.

The first 999 call was made at 9.25pm, with the Flying Christine III dispatched shortly afterwards.

Harriet, weighing 9lb, was born at 11.11pm, just minutes before the vessel docked in St Peter Port.

Kyla praised everyone involved in the emergency response.

“It ran so smoothly,” she said, “I don’t remember a single point where I was thinking ‘what’s happening now?’

“Everyone just knew what they were doing, and they were keeping me updated as we were going along, which is what I needed.”

Her husband Jake Magell added: “We’re amazingly lucky.”

Pictured: Dr Jenkins with mum Kyla, baby Harriet, dad Jake, and paramedics Jim and Lucy.

Sark’s only GP Dr Bruce Jenkins travelled with the family and helped deliver Harriet.

Although the last baby he delivered was in 2004, he said he quickly realised the birth was imminent.

“When babies are born, they come when they want to come and that’s where you’ve got to know what you’re doing,” said Dr Jenkins.

“It was uncomplicated and she was fantastic the whole way through.”

Seeing a new life come into the world in such unique circumstances was an incredible experience

Ian Ferreira, Trainee emergency medical technician

Trainee emergency medical technician Ian Ferreira, who was also on board, described the experience as “something I’ll always remember”.

“I’m very grateful to have been part of such a special moment,” he said.

“Seeing a new life come into the world in such unique circumstances was an incredible experience and, without doubt, one of the highlights of my journey as a student EMT.”

Pictured: Kyla and Jake Magell on the Flying Christie III, where baby Harriet was born.

Coxswain Andy Lowe said he felt “really honoured” to have been part of the call-out, adding that it was the second baby he had seen born aboard the Flying Christine III.

The marine ambulance, which serves the Bailiwick of Guernsey, is funded entirely through charitable donations and crewed by volunteers.

The vessel carries the same equipment as a road ambulance.

The most recent birth on the Flying Christine III before Harriet was in 2008.