AS A tiny baby fighting for life, Daniel Garbutt was the first infant to be taken into York Hospital's new Special Care Baby Unit 21 years ago.

Today, a far cry from the fragile 2lb 7oz youngster who arrived at the unit only hours after it opened, Daniel is a strapping six-feet tall and is celebrating his 21st birthday - as well as saying thank you for the opportunities hospital staff gave him.

Daniel, of Abbots Road, Selby, featured in the Evening Press in December 1983, when he entered the world three months early at home, on his lounge floor. An ambulance whisked him to York Hospital straight after his birth and his mum, Diane, says her first glimpse of him was in a photograph.

Mrs Garbutt said she remembered being very impressed by the new unit.

"The staff at York Hospital were brilliant and very excited about the new unit," she said.

"They were still getting used to it and trying to find out where things were, but I remember them being very excited, especially as it was Christmas."

Daniel's dad, who had taken the day off work, was convinced that if he had not been at home to help with the birth, Daniel would not have survived.

Sadly, Mr Garbutt died after suffering a heart attack last year.

Mrs Garbutt said she knew he would have been exceptionally proud of the man his son had become.

"It's a bit emotional with us not all being together, but I know his dad would have been proud of him," she said.

Daniel, who works as a chef at Singapore Sam's at the MacArthur Glen outlet near York, said he was very grateful to the hospital staff.

The unit welcomed its first babies in December 1983, and has since saved the lives of many premature and ill youngsters, such as Finn Morgan, who weighed 2lb when he was born 14 weeks early.

Val Wilson, senior sister at the unit, said: "I will never forget the first day the unit opened. All staff were incredibly excited."

Updated: 09:54 Monday, December 06, 2004