Firefighters reunite with newborn they helped deliver in the car: 'Testament to the profession'

First responders usually come to the rescue immediately to serve and help in their respective fields. For instance, nurses will help with patients, soldiers will deal with war and other factors, and firefighters will handle fires. However, there is something about their title that they live up to even beyond their expertise. A group of firefighters proudly came forward to help a pregnant woman in labor, per BBC News. Alice Hearle and Josh Beardmore were not expecting their second baby to arrive into their world any sooner, according to the International Fire and Safety Journal.

After experiencing contractions and contacting her doctor, the couple was relaxed. Beardmore said, “We chilled out, went for a walk along the seafront and got grilled cheese.” However, things changed within minutes and Hearle was experiencing contractions again. “Five minutes after I got off the phone with my midwife, I had this secondary water break. I was getting contractions every minute,” Hearle recalled. The couple hurried over to the hospital. “We were in the car and had just got down the road when Alice said, ‘I’ve got to push, the baby’s coming,’” Beardmore said.

He figured they wouldn’t make it to the hospital in time and improvised to make things work. That’s when the fire crew of Falmouth Bluewatch came to the rescue. After spotting a fire scene nearby, he rushed to call for help. “I waved over at the guys and said, ‘I think I need a bit of a hand here, my Mrs is having a baby,’” he said. Two female firefighters, Katie Hoskins and Rosy Tonkins, gladly came to help. The rest of the crew helped by blocking the view with their truck and offering whatever assistance possible. The duo were “amazing,” Beardmore exclaimed.

“They dropped everything. The two girls were straight in the car and said, ‘You look after Alice and we’ll deal with the baby,’” he recalled. Tonkins stayed on call with the ambulance while Hoskins led the delivery. The dad was grateful for their “calm and control” throughout the spontaneous situation. After 3 pushes, the group welcomed a baby girl and the mom and baby both were doing just fine. “They were so comforting and took control of the situation. I didn’t have time to be worried,” Hearle wrote. Weeks followed and the couple gratefully went over to thank the crew for their astute support.

“I wanted to say thank you to them for being so calm and jumping in like they did. It wasn’t the water birth I had planned, but I actually feel really proud and positive about the birth,” Hearle added. She also mentioned that the crew members noted the exact time her daughter was born. Kath Billing, Chief Fire Officer at Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service, said, “I am so pleased that Olive arrived safely and I am immensely proud of the crews that helped with her delivery. They are a testament to the service and their profession.” The Cornwall Council shared a post of the firefighters with the couple and a picture of the little girl on Facebook. The heartwarming caption read, “A baby who was born in the back of a car has been reunited with the amazing firefighters that helped bring her into the world.”