A miracle baby spent 15 days on a life support machine after being born with his heart the wrong way round. Joseph Robinson's life hung in the balance after he was born three weeks early with his heart stopping five times when he was just hours old.

As doctors battled to save his life, the tiny baby was connected to a life support machine. His parents, Trevor and Claire Robinson, both 29 and from Hartlepool, could only watch as Joseph fought for survival.

"The pregnancy was that bad I had this feeling that there was something wrong all the way through," Mrs Robinson told the Hartlepool Mail. Her son was born at University Hospital of North Tees, in Stockton, on October 8, weighing 5lb 7oz.

Joseph was admitted to intensive care and it was an hour before Mrs Robinson could see her son again.

"I just could not stop crying when I saw him hooked up. It was horrific," she said.

Joseph was transferred to the specialist Freeman Hospital in Newcastle, where surgeons waited until he was eight days old to perform the operation to switch his heart back.

A week later Joseph was able to breathe on his own and shortly afterwards he could be fed without the need for tubes.

For the first time Mrs Robinson was able to cuddle him and the five-week old is now back home with his brothers. Although Joseph will need regular check-ups doctors have given him a clean bill of health.

"He is my little miracle," the mother-of-five said.

Ms Robinson added: "If we ever had a girl we were going to call it Angel, but I think we have already got one."