A HONITON couple, who feared their baby son would die after contracting a series of life-threatening infections at just a few days old, have launched a fundraising drive – to help provide vital equipment for a neo-natal unit.

A HONITON couple, who feared their baby son would die after contracting a series of life-threatening infections at just a few days old, have launched a fundraising drive - to help provide vital equipment for a neo-natal unit.

Braydon Taylor, who celebrated his first birthday earlier this week, was given only a 10 per cent chance of survival after contracting pneumonia, septicaemia and suspected meningitis.

The Midweek Herald captured the dramatic moment last year when the Devon Air Ambulance landed on Allhallows Playing Field to fly gravely ill Brandon to hospital for life-saving treatment.

But his journey from Honiton to the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital was just the start of his flight to recovery.

Braydon was transferred by air from Exeter to Derriford Hospital in Plymouth and then to a hospital in Leicester, where he was placed on an ECMO machine that delivered oxygen to the blood via a mechanical by-pass.

Parents Natasha, 23, and Scott, 28, were warned Braydon may not survive the flight to Leicester.

"We were told there was less than a 10 per cent chance he'd make the flight," said Mrs Taylor, who has three other children.

Mr Taylor, a coach driver, said: "Braydon's development has been delayed, and he is always ill.

"He suffers from a lot of chest infections."

The couple, who live in St Paul's Road, are now planning a charity sky dive to raise money for the neo-natal unit at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital.

Friends and colleagues are planning to join them.

They aim to raise hundreds of pounds each and are desperate to attract sponsorship - from individuals and local companies.

If you would like to sponsor them, contact Mrs Taylor on (01404) 810938.