A first-time father battled the odds to get back to Bermuda before Hurricane Igor — in order to witness the birth of his baby daughter.

Ja'Cal Washington, an apprentice pilot on the cargo ship Oleander, was in New Jersey when he learned his partner Nicole Simons, 20, had begun to go into labour.

In a race against the clock, Mr. Washington caught an emergency flight to Bermuda before the storm. The couple then braved the pounding wind and rain to get to King Edward VII Memorial Hospital to welcome daughter Samiyah Simons, weighing in at 6 lb 10 oz, on Sunday at 9.26 a.m.

Two other baby girls were also born during Hurricane Igor — one weighing in at 7 lb 14 oz on Monday at 11.29 a.m. and the other weighing 6 lb 11 oz at 12.47 p.m.

Yesterday both Ms Simons and her baby were in "great" condition and mom said: "I was surprised that it went so well."

There was some wind and rain, but conditions weren't "too bad," said Mr. Washington.

"It took us only a couple of minutes to get to the hospital and there weren't any trees down or anything coming from Montpelier Road and Palmetto Road (in Pembroke)."

Ms Simons started experiencing labour pains on Friday at 4 a.m. She called her partner, who was berthed in New Jersey, and Mr. Washington asked the ship's captain if there was any way to get him home sooner.

"It wasn't until the last minute, an hour before the flight (from New Jersey) was leaving, that the captain said 'I can get you a flight'. And I jumped at the opportunity with an hour to go before departure.

"We booked the flight at 10.50 a.m. I had to clear Customs twice, once at the port and again at the airport, and I got to the flight at 11.38 a.m. It took off at 11.50 a.m.

"I didn't think I was going to make it. I was just rushing. It seemed like everything, the smallest things were taking forever. I wanted to be there because it's my first child and I love Nicole and Samiyah and I just wanted to be there for her."

Despite the drama, Mr. Washington made it back to the Island on Friday afternoon and said he wouldn't have changed a thing.

"I am glad 100 percent I was here to support her. It's a life changing moment and I am really excited about it."

Ms Simons said she will share the story with her daughter when she is older.

"I will tell her this story when she grows up about the storm and how her dad had to rush home to get back here.

"That was the biggest thing because I was preparing to do it without him here. The hurricane kind of helped because the flights were empty."