Mum whose newborn baby's life was saved by ice therapy campaigns for greater use of pioneering technique

Parents of a baby whose life was saved when he was "frozen" shortly after a difficult birth, will be toasting to their healthy toddler son's future this Christmas.

Freddy Cooke, from Reading, did not breathe for 20 minutes after he was born and was rushed to hospital for revolutionary ice therapy to prevent brain damage.

His Mum, Nicky Symmonds says is raising money for more of the equipment that saved her son's life.

After his body temperature was cooled to 33c for three days, he was "defrosted" on Christmas Eve so Nicky could give him his first ever cuddle.

30-year-old Nicky explained her difficult labour. She told the Daily Mirror:

The midwife explained Nicky was in the early stages of labour and she would return in a few hours.

However, Nicky's labour deteriorated quickly after the midwife left. Danny noticed an unusual discharge in Nicky's waters and started feeling the sudden urge to push half an hour later.

After calling 999, it emerged Freddy's shoulder was stuck in Nicky's upper pelvic bone and the umbilical cord - which supplies oxygen - had snapped.

Paramedics tried to revive the baby and rushed him to the hospital. Nicky explained:

Thanks to the efforts of the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford, "Christmas miracle" Freddy was given a clean bill of health four months later and has grown into a happy two-year-old.

Nicky, Daniel and Freddy spoke to Daybreak about their plans for a "relaxed" family Christmas now everyone has recovered: