Met Police officers who helped deliver a baby on the streets of Southwark last month have visited the family for the first time, with the new mother saying she would remember them for the rest of her life.
Police constables (PCs) Mia Kerr and Tom Palmer were on regular patrols on Friday, August 20 when the father-to-be frantically asked them for help, with his partner Martina going into labour on the street. A kind passer-by was also helping them.
The officers asked the control room for help and PCs Kirsty Roberts and Ali Miah were sent to provide help.
PCs Kerr and Roberts guided Martina through the delivery of the baby boy, helped on the phone by staff from the London Ambulance Service. Meanwhile PCs Palmer and Miah gathered makeshift items to help with the delivery and held up blankets to give the mother some privacy from members of the public.
There was a complication with the birth, as the baby’s umbilical cord was wrapped around its neck. PC Roberts, with help from ambulance workers on the phone, successfully unwrapped the cord and delivered the baby safely.
Officers needed something to tie the cord with and used the elastic from a face mask. The baby boy was wrapped up in a blanket and officers waited on the scene for ambulance workers to arrive and continue giving care.
New mother Martina 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.”
PC Kerr, from the Emergency Response Team in Southwark, said: “This was an overwhelming and incredible experience, being able to help such a beautiful family in their time of need. 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, from the same team, said: “This was an unbelievable experience. 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. 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.”