A SWANSEA family has received a seven figure sum in compensation after a medical error during their daughter's birth rendered her virtually helpless.

Rhiannon Pridmore, aged seven, from Swansea, suffered severe brain damage during her birth at the city's Singleton Hospital after the umbilical cord became trapped around her neck.

Rhiannon was effectively dead for eight minutes and when she was brought round she showed signs of severe damage to the cells in her central nervous system. She was diagnosed with tetraplegic cerebral palsy.

Her disability means she is entirely dependent on her family and carers. She cannot speak, walk or stand and cannot sit up unaided. She has serious visual problems and profound learning difficulties.

Her parents, Jayne and Brian, who also have a six-week-old daughter called Ava, instructed Thompsons Solicitors to pursue compensation so they could provide for Rhiannon for the rest of her life.

Thompsons argued that Jayne should have undergone continuous monitoring while giving birth and was able to secure the compensation for the family after Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University NHS Board admitted breach of duty and settled the claim out of court.

Mr Pridmore said: "This money will give us financial security to provide for all Rhiannon's needs and enable us to make her life as happy as possible. We have been waiting for this outcome to be able to afford to make adaptations to our home which will make life easier for her.''

The former postman added: "We thank the Lord that Rhiannon survived her birth and when she smiles it is just fantastic and makes up for all the hard work. We are so proud of her.

"We are also thankful to the local community for helping raise fund to allow Rhiannon to go to Florida.

"Without their support Rhiannon would not have been able to make such big advances."

The damages come after the friends and neighbours came together to help raise more than £10,000 to pay for Rhiannon to go to Key Largo in America to receive 10 physiotherapy therapy sessions and to swim with dolphins.

By the end of the trip Rhiannon's ability to make and communicate choices was increased and her ability to hold her head and visualise was improved.

Mrs Pridmore said at the time: "It was brilliant to see her in the water with the dolphins. She did really benefit from it as she was having intense therapy."

The trip was paid for via a massive fund-raising effort involving locals at the Maltsters, Waunarlwydd Rugby Club and singing posties at Llansamlet's Royal Mail sorting office, who sold copies of a spoof video of Peter Kay's version of the Tony Christie hit Is This the Way to Amarillo?

Cathryn Davies, from Thompsons Solicitors added: "We are pleased to have been able to help Jayne, Brian and Rhiannon.

"Rhiannon's disability could have been avoided if correct procedures had been followed at the birth.

"Sadly, it was only through lengthy and difficult litigation that Rhiannon's long-term needs could be assessed and the cost of them calculated.

"The litigation also ensures that poor medical procedures are fully investigated and hopefully lessons learned to improve standards of care during labour and the delivery of babies.''

A board spokeswoman said: "This is a tragic event which happened seven years ago under the former Swansea NHS trust.

"Since then a number of changes have been put in place to minimise the risk of something like this happening again.

"All staff involved in interpreting equipment used to monitor foetal and maternal heart rates now attend update training twice a year.

"In addition the protocol for monitoring women in labour has been updated and risk assessments management processes to identify any problems early have also been put in place.

"We realise that no monetary award can compensate for the devastating effects on Rhiannon and her families lives, but we hope it will at least help to support them as much as possible."