Four police officers who helped deliver a baby boy on the streets of London have been reunited with the family they helped get through the “scariest and most wonderful experience”.
Emergency response officers PCs Mia Kerr, Tom Palmer, Kirsty Roberts and Ali Miah met the family after they rushed to help with the birth last month, the Metropolitan Police said.
PC Kerr and PC Palmer had been out on regular patrols in Southwark, south London, on 20 August when they were waved down by father-to-be Marco De Carli.
He was asking for help as his partner was going into labour nearby, and PC Kerr informed the control room of the situation.
She went with PC Palmer to help the mother, Martina Janes, before PC Roberts and PC Miah arrived to help.
Ms Janes, 36, said: “It was at the same time the scariest and most wonderful experience we ever had.
“The right lovely people happened to be there and we feel incredibly lucky.
“Their kindness made us so comfortable that I couldn’t feel any fear and we honestly have no words to thank them enough.
“Our family will remember them for the rest of our life.”
Once at the scene, the officers realised they would need to deliver the baby and started gathering make-shift items to assist with the birth.
The team also held up blankets for privacy to make sure members of the public walking past could do so without intruding.
Over the phone, London Ambulance Service (LAS) guided PC Roberts through how to deliver the baby, but there was a complication due to the umbilical being wrapped around his neck.
Luckily, PC Roberts was able to unwrap the corn, and the baby was born safely.
Officers were told by LAS to tie the cord, but without any proper supplies, they were forced to use the elastic tie on a medical face mask to do so.
The baby boy was wrapped up in a blanket and bandages from police first aid kits as they waited for an ambulance, which arrived shortly after.
PC Kerr said it was not the situation she expected to be dealing with when she started her shift that day.
“This was an overwhelming and incredible experience, being able to help such a beautiful family in their time of need”, she said.
“It was not what I expected when I started my shift that day, but I knew we needed to act quickly for the safety of both mother and baby. In the moment we kept focused on the task at hand, so we could support them and help as much as possible”.
PC Roberts described the experience as “unbelievable”, saying the “team leapt into action without hesitation” when they realised what was going on.
“We’re used to dealing with emergencies and the unexpected, but this did take us a little by surprise”, he added.
“It’s been so lovely to see how the family have been getting on. It was a privilege to deliver their baby and it’s something I will never forget.”
https://news.sky.com/story/police-officers-reunited-with-baby-they-delivered-on-london-street-12402964
