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Double delight for new mum Ana Santos at UEL's Open Evening

Friday 17 October 2008

Stratford resident Ana Santos is celebrating the birth of her beautiful twins, who surprised everyone by arriving a week early while their mother was touring the Docklands campus of the University of East London (UEL) on the evening of Wednesday 15 October.

Mrs Santos, who has applied to join UEL in February to study Combined Honours Law with Human Resource Management, was taken by surprise when her contractions started while she was attending a talk by Susan Fitzgerald at the Open Evening, attended by over 500 visitors from all over the UK.

Quick-witted UEL staff helped call her husband Paulo and an ambulance to rush her to the maternity unit at Newham General Hospital. The two healthy babies, a girl Heliana and boy Eden, were delivered safely by midwives in later that evening.

Ana Santos, who was born in Angola and has lived in London for 16 years, said: "It happened very quickly - I was sitting listening to the talk and suddenly it started and I nearly fainted.

"Thanks to Susan, Deborah, Vicky and the whole UEL team - I will definitely be coming back in February and look forward to bringing the babies to campus when I start my Combined Honours degree in the New Year. My nephew is a student at UEL and he recommended it to me."

Proud father Paulo Santos said: "We are so happy - it is a wonderful day. It will be hard work for Ana studying and looking after the babies but the whole family is supporting her."

Susan Fitzgerald, Registrar for the School of Combined Honours at UEL said: "At first I thought it was something I said about the timetable, but as soon as we realised what was happening, everyone rallied round to help. We are all delighted for the Santos family and look forward to seeing them again soon."

Notes to Editors

The University of East London (UEL) is a global learning community with over 28,000 students from over 120 countries world-wide. Our vision is to achieve recognition, both nationally and internationally, as a successful and inclusive regional university proud of its diversity, committed to new modes of learning which focus on students and enhance their employability, and renowned for our contribution to social, cultural and economic development, especially through our research and scholarship. We have a strong track-record in widening participation and working with industry.

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