Coral Harbour (June 11/03) - A seriously ill baby in Coral Harbour was denied hospital care when bad weather grounded all air traffic to the hamlet on May 28.

Freezing rain closed the hamlet's airstrip just as staff at the local nursing station decided to medivac the eight- month-old to Churchill.

Nurse-in-charge Joanne Watson said the baby had a respiratory problem that required hospital care.

She said the airport closure meant the baby would have to stay in Coral until the weather cleared or an alternative could be found.

On the phone with doctors, travel companies and airlines, Watson said everyone worked together in the best interests of the child.

"Everyone was working really hard to get the baby out," said Watson

In the meantime, health centre staff stood constant vigil over the child to keep him stable.

A glimmer of hope flashed when Skyward Aviation offered to attempt a landing on the ice-covered runway.

The company believed a smaller aircraft could land and take off safely to usher the child to hospital.

However, Skyward was told not to make the attempt.

Coral Mayor Marvin Dion was upset by the decision.

"It seemed like the bureaucrats made the decision for us," said Dion.

Watson said that wasn't the case at all.

She said they were more than willing to let Skyward try the medivac, but the aircraft was unsuitable for their needs.

"They didn't have a pressurized cabin.

"They could fly at a lower altitude, but they had to fly at a higher altitude over the water for 30 minutes.

"He (the baby) was safer here."

The decision was made in consultation with doctors from Rankin Inlet and Churchill.

"There were a lot of people working very hard to make it happen."

Despite the dedicated teamwork, Watson said the weather was too bad to transfer the child safely.

That meant nurses pulled 24-hour-a-day duty during the next two days until the weather finally cleared.

"We were all really tired.

"We're not a 24-hour service.

"Well, we are, but we're not like hospitals. We don't have shifts."

Once conditions were safe the baby was flown to Churchill.

"He's doing fine."