Proud KR star brings home baby

Hull KR's Ben Galea and his wife have made an emotional homecoming with their baby daughter after she was born nine weeks' premature.

The Australian second row today thanked staff at Hull Women and Children's Hospital, who he said had been like a second family to them during the two months baby Keona was in hospital.

Speaking from his home in Brough, Ben said: “I'm over the moon she's home.

“When she was born, it was the proudest moment of my life.

“But we only had a few moments with her before they whisked her away and put her in an incubator.

“They didn't have room for my wife, Julia, at the hospital, so we had to leave Keona every night. It was really hard.

“What made it easier for us was the staff at the hospital.

“They were like another family for us, especially since our families are in Sydney.

Julia, 28, went into labour on the morning of June 8.

She was rushed to hospital and Keona was delivered by Caesarian section at 8.27am, weighing just 3lbs.

The baby was then rushed to intensive care and kept in hospital for the next eight weeks.

The couple stayed with her during the day but had to leave her in the hands of the nurses during the night.