PARENTS have spoken of the moment their premature baby was rushed into intensive care after his lungs collapsed.

Theo Hayes was born a month early on August 13 but had stopped growing in the womb about four weeks earlier.

Dad Tom, 32, said Theo “simply wasn’t breathing” after being delivered by caesarean section.

The tot was taken to the Colchester neo-natal unit.

Tom said: "After initially making good progress and being taken off all breathing assistance machines, he has now been rushed to Addenbrooke’s hospital two hours away from home and put on a life support ventilator as we have had some unfortunate setbacks, and found out part of his lungs have collapsed at the bottom.

"He also has two holes in his heart which although doctors have said they don’t believe are effecting little one, is still something Theo has to endure alongside everything else he’s going through.

“We are currently right now in the ward and have been here since Saturday."

Baby Theo HayesBaby Theo Hayes (Image: Tom Hayes)

Tom said the biggest problem for him and wife Caroline, 32, is the cost of driving to and from Cambridge.

Luckily they have been given temporary accommodation at the hospital, funded by the Sick Children’s Trust.

The couple have set up a Gofundme page in a bid to raise £1,000 after already draining their savings.

Tom said:  "I hate to do this, I really do. We work hard for everything me and my family have, but I am unable to go back to work while all this is going on.

"I just want some help with getting to and from the hospital and making sure Theo has everything he needs in order to triumph in this already difficult world.

"Theo’s mum is with him every step of the way and I am here every day, but we have another three children to look after as well.

"I just don’t want anyone in my family to have to suffer because of what’s going on with little one."

He added: “We have had - touch wood - positive news over the past couple of days.

“We are not anywhere close to the end, but we are getting answers now.

“Me and my wife have agreed we would like to donate to the charity.

"That’s what some of the money is for as without the temporary accommodation, we both would have been sleeping the car."

To donate visit https://www.gofundme.com/f/btfvw-baby-theo.