A four-month old baby is fighting for his life in hospital after waiting more than double the target response time for an ambulance.

Little Corey Marx stopped breathing at his home in Monmouth on Thursday 8th December and is now in a critical condition at hospital in Cardiff.

Corey was born prematurely, at just 25 weeks, on 31st July this year and suffers from chronic lung disease.

He spent the first three-and-a-half months of his life in hospital and was only allowed home towards the end of November.

One morning, with dad Dean Marx off to work, mum Zoe Croudace went upstairs to find Corey had turned blue and was not breathing.

"We had been taught CPR for infants the week before, so I started mouth-to-mouth and rang for an ambulance," said Ms Croudace.

A Rapid Response Vehicle (RRV) that had been near Monmouth arrived after three-and-a-half minutes.

"The paramedic started giving the baby oxygen. He was very blue and gasping occasionally but was not responsive.

"Corey needed to be taken to hospital but the paramedic couldn't drive and work on the baby at the same time."

For the full story, see Beacon 21st December.