A tear-jerking reunion took place this month when a young man who weighed just over 1lb at birth met the doting nurses who saved his life.

Rohan Lowe, from Hove, in East Sussex, was the most premature baby to be born at the St George’s Hospital Neonatal Unit when he arrived on December 4, 1991.

Although the 21-year-old’s heart stopped immediately after birth, the unit’s quick-thinking nurses managed to get his heartbeat going again.

He weighed just 1lb 4oz (570 grams), after only 23 weeks gestation, and required oxygen for the first year of his life.

The average weight for a male baby at the time was 7lb 7oz.

In a surprise guest appearance Mr Lowe was reunited with staff and nurses who ensured his safe delivery at the unit’s Christmas party on December 9.

Mr Lowe knew many of the women who cared from him still worked at the hospital and wanted to meet them again to thank them for the fantastic care they gave him all those years ago.

Speaking after the touching meeting, he described the visit as “very emotional”, a sentiment shared by the staff and nurses.

The Brighton City College student said: “I’ve always been proud of having been such a  small baby.

“I know being born early is the reason that my eyesight it not so good, but I feel very special.”

Posing for a photograph with staff who had cared for him Mr Lowe admitted he found it funny how much taller he is than all of them now.

With tears in her eyes Doris Jackman, head of nursing, recalled the night the tiny youngster, who she described as a “fighter”, arrived.

She said: “I remember the night he was born very well, I was the sister in charge of the shift.

The senior registrar and I knew about the imminent delivery of a 23-week gestation baby.

“But in those days extreme premature babies did not always show signs of life at delivery but we resuscitated him.

“Rohan was so premature at birth that one of his eyelids was still fused but he was a fighter and despite all odds he made it.”

Mr Lowe's father, Kevin, lavished praise on the staff who saved his son’s life.

He said: “We will never forget little things like how they got us Christmas dinner to eat on the unit so we didn’t have to leave the hospital.

“It was great to be able to thank them again – especially at this time of year.”

His son received his Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award earlier this year and is an active member of Brighton and Hove’s Youth Council.