Baby Grayson arrives during Category 5 cyclone

It was the biggest cyclone Western Australia had seen in more than 10 years.

A record-breaking, Category 5 system that saw winds of over 200km per hour and a red alert declared early in the afternoon of 13 April 2023.

With locals urged to stay inside and take immediate cover, staff at Hedland Health Campus – some 1,500 kilometres from Perth - prepared to spend the night.

As part of the hospital’s preparatory work, expert nurses, doctors and support staff bunkered down and called-in high risk patients and expectant mothers.

“We knew a red alert was imminent,” WA Country Health Service’s Lisa Smith said.

“At that point, it would be too dangerous for at-risk people to get to the hospital – so we urged them to come to the hospital ahead of time – including expectant mum, Kylie.”

Kylie presented to Hedland Health Campus 30 weeks pregnant and would go on to give birth as Severe Tropical Cyclone Ilsa made landfall.

“Delivering premature babies is very stressful – especially for mum and bub – but we had all our best people on-hand to support Kylie and welcome baby Grayson,” Lisa said.

“Our people, including Dr Chris Peyton and his team of paediatricians, anaesthetists and theatre staff as well as Michelle Percival, Jodee Gray, Charlotte van den Berg, Sam Magee and Carol Jacobs worked together with the Newborn Emergency Transport Service (NETS WA) to safely deliver, and establish, a mobile intensive care unit for Grayson.”

Lisa said while the newborn would require transfer to the metropolitan area, he was doing well as was Kylie.

“We could not be prouder of our staff at Hedland Health Campus – it was a sleepless night but we were able to work together to keep Hedlanders safe.”

WA Country Health Service would like to thank all staff involved in the response to Severe Tropical Cyclone Ilsa, including non-clinical teams who worked around-the-clock to keep our hospitals and health services operational.