Girlfriend delivered special present for Welsh solider

A Welsh soldier fighting in Afghanistan received an extra special Christmas present – a baby boy.

Infantry soldier Danny Hughes, 19, from Buckley, North Wales, even heard his son’s first cries after phoning his girlfriend from the front line.

The baby boy, Alfie Lee, was due on Boxing Day but arrived a day early, weighing in at 8lbs.

Fusilier Hughes, of 1st Battalion The Royal Welsh, phoned his mother on December 25 only to be told his girlfriend, Jenny Chung, was in labour.

He said: “I called Jenny’s mobile straight away and was amazed when she answered.

“She was actually in labour and had taken the mobile in case I called.”

After an anxious few hours he called back with perfect timing to discover his son had just been delivered.

He was even able to hear his son’s first cries after the doctor held the mobile phone to the baby.

Soldiers on the front line do not receive paternity leave but Fusilier Hughes will see his son when he returns to the UK for a two-week break.

He arrived in Afghanistan in the middle of December as part of the extra wave of British troops.

Fusilier Hughes said: “It is great being out on the front line.

“Although we have had some pretty hairy moments it is not all about fighting.

“Our job is also to patrol out into the villages and talk to the local Afghans.”