Mum thanks ambulance crew after dramatic birth at train station

The crews who safely delivered a baby almost 12 weeks premature have been praised by the mum for their actions.

Michelle Bellham, from Royston, was about to catch a train to Cambridge when her waters broke at the station. Crews from Melbourn and Stevenage were dispatched in the form of Darren Southam, Laura Tunbridge, Alistair Theobald, Katherine Rataj, Ann Casey, and Tim Hill.

Laura, who was first on scene with Darren, said: “Once we checked over Michelle, we knew that we were delivering the baby at the station.”

Baby Ashley was born weighing just 2lbs 13oz on the 13^th July and required some treatment as initially he wasn’t breathing. Darren said: “After a few squeezes of the bag valve mask, Ashley began breathing by himself, we thought we were going to have to work a lot more, especially given how premature he was.”

Darren added: “The control room team were fantastic; they recognised the importance of sending an ambulance to support us exactly when we needed it.”

Last week (Friday, 18^th November), Michelle and Ashley were reunited with our staff under much happier circumstances. She said: “I can’t thank you enough for helping us; I knew at that moment that it was life or death, and what you all did on that day will never be forgotten.”

Emergency Medical Technician Katherine said: “We don’t get many jobs like this but to hold him in my arms now makes it all worth it; this is why we do this for a living.”

Darren added: “It was one of the most memorable jobs I’ve been involved in and I’m so glad to see both Michelle and Ashley doing so well.”

Published 22nd November, 2016