A case of mistaken identity led to a surprise reunion between paramedics and a child he helped deliver in an extremely dangerous birth seven years ago.

Tony Chittick, from Epping, and colleague Steve Salter were sent to treat a woman in the final stages of labour at 3am on February 16 2008.

They delivered tiny Ellen Louise Finn, born 12 weeks premature in a complicated and difficult breech birth.

Ellen’s mother Rebecca Finch says her daughter would not be here today had it not been for the expert actions of the paramedics.

The 34-year-old said: “It was a breech birth and once Ellen’s shoulders had passed the labour stopped. Her neck was being broken.”

The reunion at the end of February took place at a property at the Norton Heath Equestrian Centre near Blackmore, where Ellen was born almost exactly seven years previously. 

The unexpected meeting came after Ms Finch, a personal assistant, thought she recognised the East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust (EEAST) paramedic as one who helped her, during a recent visit to Broomfield Hospital in Chelmsford.

The man in the green uniform Ms Finch approached wasn’t Mr Salter, but the paramedic was able to put the pair in touch.

Loughton based emergency medical technician Tony Chittick, who has been with the trust for 20 years called it a "miracle birth". 

He said: "We turned up to a nightmare scenario with lots of screaming and shouting and panic in the middle of the night. It looked like we were in the process of delivering a stillborn baby which was massively premature.”

“We didn’t expect the baby to survive. It was one of those that massively went against the grain and was a positive outcome. I had never worked with Steve before but it obviously worked out well that night."

Mr Salter who lives in Braintree said: “When I saw Ellen it was quite strange but quite special. She is really intelligent and she’s bright as a button. It was lovely to meet her after all these years.”

"I remember delivering the baby then keeping her warm. Although she was premature her breathing was good. It sounds odd but I recognised her eyes. It was nice to see that seven years on she was doing so well. Often you leave patients and never see them again.”

In a new series on the NHS, the Guardian will feature experiences of patients, their families and staff of treatment provided across east London and west Essex. As A&Es continue to struggle with demand and politicians argue over the future of healthcare, we will publish first-hand accounts, features and news stories on the latest developments. We want to hear from you if you have something to say about your local hospital, GP surgery, or clinic. Click here for contact details of reporters covering your area. Alternatively, you can submit a story here.