Yorkshire-based operator Multiflight answered a plea for help from the mother of a baby with Erb's Palsy, and flew the baby and his parents home to Palma, Majorca, after a crucial procedure at Leeds hospital.

Mother Justine Murphy wrote to Multiflight with the support of the Erb's Palsy Group, a UK-based organisation supporting families affected by the condition, requesting the company's help following nerve graft surgery on her son Seth. Seth's condition affects the movement, sensation and function of his right shoulder, arm and hand. This condition is likely to be life-long and will leave him with a significant deficit in the functional use of his right arm.

Seth's care was transferred from Majorca where the family live, to a specialist centre in Leeds. Following an assessment in September he was booked in for nerve graft surgery, and it was deemed imperative that this surgery was undertaken as soon as possible in order that some function might return to the arm.

“After surgery he will be in a lot of pain, and we need to keep him flat and as comfortable as possible,” Justine wrote in a letter to Multiflight.

“This means being able to have him laid in his cot opposed to causing him discomfort in our arms on a commercial flight, or being strapped into a car seat which just won't be viable as his top half must stay rigid so as not to affect the work that will have been done with his nerve graft. He will also be tender as his legs will be strapped up from where they remove the spare nerves from.”

The flight took place on a company-owned Citation Excel. Miles Beecham, Multiflight director, says: “We were moved by Seth's story and wanted to help if we possibly could. We are delighted that we were able to assist in giving baby Seth the best possible chance of recovery.”