A pair of former Olympians from Carlisle have presented the special care baby unit (SCBU) at the Cumberland Infirmary with a cheque after it helped to save their daughter’s life.

David and Stacey King had a hugely successful skating career which included national titles and appearances at two Winter Olympics in Vancouver and Sochi.

Following retirement from competitive skating, the couple started a family. However, complications arose when Stacey contracted sepsis whilst pregnant with her daughter, Darcey.

“My wife was rushed into hospital very ill and unfortunately the drugs she was on brought the baby 10 weeks early,” said David King.

“Darcey was born into this incubator and stayed in hospital for another 10 weeks and my wife was still very sick, so it was a very scary time.

“The nurses in the unit were absolutely fantastic. They are absolute angels and just looked after Darcey and resuscitated her two or three times when she stopped breathing.

"We owe them a great debt.”

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Both Darcey and Stacey made full recoveries with Darcey described as a 'proper trooper' by her father, David. 

Earlier this year, David and Stacey opened the prestigious Challenger International competition at the Dumfries Icebowl and have donated their fee to the SCBU.

“We just want to raise the profile of the unit and to just try and give back, in our own way,” said David.