Olympic sprinter Iwan Thomas has announced the birth of his baby boy – but added the heartbreaking news that he is in intensive care.
Mr Thomas, 44, said he returned home from the hospital “the happiest man alive”, only to be called and told his son was having trouble breathing. He was taken to intensive care.
His partner had given birth to Teddy on Saturday, with his condition said to have improved since then.
However, in a heartbreaking Instagram post, Mr Thomas said on Sunday that he remained “in bits”.
Sharing six pictures of his newborn son, Mr Thomas wrote: “I just wanted to share with you some great and also horrendous news, my baby boy came into the World on Sat he’s so gorgeous I went home the happiest man alive that night only to be phoned to say he’s been taken to intensive care with trouble breathing, yesterday was the worst day of my life looking at my everything with tubes everywhere in an incubator.
“He is now beginning to breathe better for himself without full aid of machines, I now know what true unconditional love is.”
Mr Thomas also praised the staff at Princess Anne Hospital in Southampton, where Teddy was born: “I’m in bits worried but must say the staff here at Princess Anne hospital Southampton are truly amazing ... not out the woods yet but I will keep you all posted hopefully everything will be fine he just needs a little help as he came into the World a little bit early and fast probably so excited to get here knowing he’s going to have the most fun ever xx.
“His name is Teddy Ellis Thomas and my new best friend mum doing well tired & scared but been amazing.”
Mr Thomas competed for Great Britain in the 1996 Olympics, winning silver in the 4 × 400m relay. He also won gold medals at the 1997 World Championships and 1998 European Champsionships.
