WORLD whales expert Dr Simon Berrow, who hails from Wyre Forest, has become a dad for the first time - six years after undergoing treatment for testicular cancer.Simon Berrow with wife Frances holding baby son Ronan.

And he urged everyone to "take responsibility" for their health by getting to know their bodies intimately so they can immediately recognise if things go wrong.

Dr Berrow, 39, was warned he might be left permanently infertile after undergoing surgery and chemotherapy at Kidderminster Hospital in 1997.

But he and wife Frances, who he married last August, are now celebrating after the birth of baby son Ronan.

"He's a marvellous little boy - we are really loving being parents," said Simon, who is now based in Ireland.

The marine biologist, whose parents Judy and John still live at the family home in Chaddesley Corbett, fell ill while in the Antarctic studying whales and dolphins.

He was flown home and doctors immediately diagnosed and treated him for testicular cancer. The life-saving surgery and chemotherapy he underwent left him with a risk of lasting infertility - but fortunately that has not proved the case.

"I believe I am a father now because I acted quickly and recognised something was wrong - I got help immediately. It is vital people take responsibility for their body and get to know it well enough to immediately recognise if something is not right."

Frances fell pregnant just before Christmas last year, with little Ronan - which means "seal" in Gaelic - making his appearance six weeks ago.

Simon, a key member of Ireland's national Heritage Council which was set up to protect and promote the nation's built and natural heritage, is also project manager of the Shannon Dolphin and Wildlife Foundation in the Shannon estuary and promotes a whale sighting scheme.

"We had been hoping for a child and in fact it happened rather more quickly than we thought it would. I was delighted."

He has been invited to return to his home area next year to talk to those diagnosed with testicular cancer and their families about his experience.

"My main message to anyone would be to stress the importance of taking responsibility for your own health.

"It is too easy to expect the medical profession to spot things and to pass responsibility for our health onto the NHS, but it's vital to take charge of your own body."