Johannesburg - He took his first breath on the side of the road where his mom had gone into labour, during peak-hour traffic on a chilly afternoon.
Just after 4.30pm on Monday, Emer-G-Med paramedics were dispatched to reports “of a maternity case” at the intersection of the R114 and Malibongwe Drive in Nietgedacht, north of Joburg, otherwise known as the Lion Park Crossing.
The expecting mom was about to take a taxi to the hospital because her waters had broken earlier in the day, according to Emer-G-Med spokesman Maxwell Cohen.
Paramedic Jean Brieden-hann arrived within minutes of the call being made.
“He found the soon-to-be mom lying on the side of the road in active labour,” Cohen said.
Briedenhann immediately prepared his equipment to safely deliver the bundle of joy, while a passing ambulance was flagged down by bystanders.
“The patient was loaded into the ambulance. Once in the ambulance, Jean successfully delivered the baby boy.”
Cohen said the baby was born with some complications but was stabilised at the scene and taken to hospital in a stable condition.
“After the baby boy and his mom were both confirmed to be healthy and in a stable condition, they were transported by provincial ambulance crews to the Dr Yusuf Dadoo Hospital in Krugersdorp for observation.
“Both mom and baby were fine while on their way to hospital,” Cohen added.
Earlier this month, Emer-G-Med paramedics delivered premature twins by the side of the road after the bus carrying their mother broke down in Benoni. The twins were nicknamed “Tom” and “Jones” by paramedics because they were born on Tom Jones Road.
The bus the woman and others were travelling in on their way to Malawi broke down and was forced to pull off at a nearby garage. Sadly, little “Tom” died several days later due to complications.
@Lanc_02
The Star