Elton John and David Furnish's baby "shot out like a rocket" on the day he was born.

The couple ' who welcomed surrogate baby Zachary into the world on Christmas Day (25.12.10) ' rushed to witness the "dramatic" birth of their first child, which saw the obstetrician have to catch the infant in his arms.

Elton explained: "Suddenly, at 2.15am on Christmas Day, we were woken up. They said, 'Quickly! The baby's coming!' We went in and stood behind the bed. Then the top of the head came out and David said, 'My God, there's the head!'

"Then he shot out like a rocket basically ' so much so that the obstetrician sort of caught him! It was so dramatic and exciting, we didn't have time to get emotional. Like there he was, talk about fast!"

Despite being one of the world's wealthiest couples, the pair plan to be "hands on" parents and will only be spoiling Zachary with love, rather than material possessions.

Elton added to OK! magazine: "I feed him. David feeds him. We change his nappies. I mean, it's hands on! We are on nappy patrol.

"I'm ready to have a child and lavish my love on our son and not spoil him but be there for him and advise him. We don't want to spoil him materially, although he's already been spoiled rotten by people buying him stuff! We just want to give him some wisdom.'