On foraging heavy seas on a voyage to Suva, 40-year-old Marica Tayaco delivered her 11th child on board the Medical Department ship, Vuniwai.

It was the first time a birth had taken place onboard the ship.

The Fiji Times on this day in 1967 published an article on the incident.

Ms Tayaco, who was from Lau, gave birth to a 61b baby boy.

The baby was delivered by a Fijian sister and a Scottish medical student in Fiji on a three months’ scholarship.

The Vuniwai called at Lakeba to pick up the mother who had complications and to transport her to Suva for delivery at the CWM Hospital.

“Marica started labour pains at about 7am and the baby arrived at about 8.40am,” said the sixth year medical student Fraser Richardson of Aberdeen.

Mr Richardson worked on the delivery with Sister Adi Ana Lalakomacoi of Levuka who was also travelling in the Vuniwai.

“A breach delivery is always difficult and this was made more difficult because of the rough seas,” he said.

An ambulance waited at the King’s Wharf when the vessel arrived at Suva to take Marica and the baby to the hospital.

According to the article, mother and son were later reported to be doing well.

Marica who had lost a lot of blood, was to be given a blood transfusion.