SOUTHAMPTON-based former Olympic athlete Iwan Thomas says he is "in bits" after his newborn baby was rushed to intensive care.

The sprinter, 44, revealed the devastating news as part of a social media post, announcing the birth of son Teddy Thomas.

But shortly after the birth, the baby was taken to the intensive care unit at Princess Anne Hospital in Southampton after he began having trouble breathing.

Posting on Instagram, Thomas said: "My baby boy came into the world on Saturday, he’s so gorgeous.

"I went home the happiest man alive that night only to be phoned to say he’s been taken to intensive care with trouble breathing.

"Yesterday was the worst day of my life looking at my everything with tubes everywhere in an incubator."

 

Thomas later said how baby Teddy was breathing better and without the aid of machines but said he was "not out of the woods yet".

He later went on to praise staff at the hospital, describing them as "truly amazing".

Thomas added: "Hopefully everything will be fine he just needs a little help as he came into the world a little bit early and fast."

The sprinter's post was greeted by hundreds of messages of support from followers and thousands of likes.

Thomas represented Great Britain and Northern Ireland at the 1996 and 2000 Olympic Games in the 400 metres and Wales at the Commonwealth Games.

He was part of the British relay team which won gold at the 1995 European Cup.

In 2010 he became an ambassador for The Saints Foundation, the charity of Southampton F.C, and has been a regular participant at the charity's events.

Earlier this month Thomas took part in the Big Stadium Sleep Out at St Mary's, which aimed to raise money and awareness for the homeless.