PC helps deliver baby on Gateshead roadside
Listen to moment officer calls the control room.
This is the moment a police officer radioed the control room to report that he had helped deliver a baby on the roadside.
PC Dave Hill was in the right place at the right time when baby girl Ella made an unorthodox arrival in the front seat of her dad’s car in the early hours of Saturday, March 6.
Dad-to-be Colin, 33, had been hurrying towards the RVI with expectant mum Chloe, 23, when he spotted a police car on Derwenthaugh Road in Gateshead.
The dad-to-be flashed his headlights to try and get the attention of officers so he could ask for the quickest route to the hospital.
It didn’t take long for PC Hill to realise what was happening and, despite transporting a man in the back of his police van, he offered to escort the couple to the maternity unit.
He promptly switched on his blues and twos but within minutes Colin was signalling for PC Hill to come to a stop – because little Ella was already on the way.
The officer was on hand with his surgical gloves and face mask to help deliver the 6lb 11oz baby girl in the front passenger seat on the side of Chainbridge Road at 2.10am.
He quickly wrapped the newborn baby in a police jacket before offering his own high-vis jacket to a shattered Chloe to try to keep them warm.
The now mother-of-three has since returned home with little Ella and has today paid tribute to the “calmness” of the Northumbria Police officer who helped with her delivery.
“It must have been a few minutes after the officer started to escort us to hospital that my waters just exploded all over the front of the car,” said Chloe.
“With my other two children I’ve been in hospital all day but with Ella it was dead quick and she was basically delivered on the dash board.
“Dave had his police jacket on him and he took that off straight away and wrapped the baby up so she was warm.
“It was very dramatic and not what I expected but it is a story to tell Ella when she is all grown up. We are back home now and she is lovely.
“I am really grateful to Dave. He was a lot calmer than what I was and I am just really pleased he was there.”
Northumbria Police have today released the audio from the radio call PC Hill made to the control room announcing Ella’s arrival.
The dad-of-four said all the credit has to go to proud mum Chloe and his only job was to make sure he didn’t drop the baby.
He said: “When we were flashed the final time I went to see Chloe and she was in the front passenger seat with her feet on the dashboard.
“The baby’s head and shoulders were already out and I can’t take much credit. She did all the hard work and I was just there to catch Ella.
“We wrapped her up and just tied to make sure she was warm. Chloe was really calm but it all happened so quick I don’t think any of us had any time to think.
“My main concern was to make sure I didn’t drop the baby because she was very slippery but I am delighted they’re both okay.
“It was a busy shift and I got home early in the morning and just couldn’t sleep because of the adrenaline. I had to wake my wife up to tell her what had happened.
“I have spoken to Chloe over the phone this week and it was nice to catch up with her and make sure they’re both doing well.”
Baby Ella has now settled back at home in Hamsterley, Consett, County Durham, with mum Chloe and her new brothers Mason, five, and Joe, one.