Ed Donohue, 50, was delivering fuel to Gulf Wivelsfield service station in Haywards Heath last Thursday, April 3, when expectant mother Amy Holmes and her partner Adam Davies pulled onto the forecourt.
The couple, of Selham Close in Coldean, Brighton, had become stuck in traffic on their way to the Princess Royal Hospital while Amy, 36, was in labour two weeks early.
Father Adam, 34, shouted for cars at the petrol station to move aside when he realised the baby was due any minute.
Ed, who has medical training from his time serving as an infantry soldier, helped Amy deliver her baby Solomon in the front of their Citroen Cactus hatchback.
Ed, who works for Certas Energy, said: “I was midway through the fuel delivery when I saw a car coming right towards me and heard the couple inside shouting.
“At first I thought they were having a domestic, but quickly realised they needed help.
“The ambulance service were on the phone in the car but there was lots of confusion about getting them to the site so we just had to crack on with it.
“I had first aid training years ago when I was in the army, so it all just kicked in.
“It was definitely the craziest thing I’ve seen on shift – and possibly that I’ve seen in my 50 years.
“I don’t feel I did anything special – I’m just happy to have helped.”
Adam said: “It was a total whirlwind – the most chaotic morning we’ve ever had.
“We were stuck in awful traffic, and we could already feel the baby’s head, so I knew I had to get us somewhere safe.
READ MORE: Fundraiser launched for family who lost home in serious blaze
“I was beeping like mad to get us onto the forecourt in time.
“Ed was brilliant – he was by our side throughout it all.
“He was a beacon of calm.
“At one point the umbilical cord was caught on the baby’s shoulder and he told me to pull it over the baby’s head and that’s when Solomon came out.”
Solomon was born at 8.46am weighing 7lbs 14oz – just five minutes after arriving on the Ditchling Road forecourt.
Staff at the service station also stepped in to help.
Adam said: “We’re just grateful he’s a healthy weight considering he came early and that we’re all home now.
“Physically we’re all fine, but we’re still mentally processing everything that happened.
“We were probably only on the forecourt for seven minutes in total but it was obviously a really emotional day.”
Andre Salvidge, store manager at Gulf Wivelsfield Service Station, said: “Nothing like this has ever happened before on site.
“It was heart warming to see everyone come together to help Amy and Adam.
“We’re proud that Wivelsfield Service Station was a safe haven for this family in their time of need.
“We’re sending the whole family our congratulations and best wishes.”
Speech and language therapist Amy and baby Solomon are both healthy and doing well.
Source link
[Featured]
[Just In]
