Heroic firefighter delivers her nephew during dramatic home birth
Off-duty City firefighter Firdous Seat helped deliver her nephew at a Maitland home before colleagues escorted mother and baby to Mowbray Maternity Hospital.
Image: Supplied
A City of Cape Town firefighter helped deliver her nephew in Maitland after what began as a plan to drive to hospital turned into an emergency birth at home.
The incident occurred in the early hours of Monday morning when Firefighter Firdous Seat received a call, that her brother’s girlfriend had gone into labour. The family had no transport.
“They didn’t have any transport and they live just down the road from us in Maitland,” Seat said.
An ambulance was arranged, but Seat decided to fetch the mother-to-be herself after learning she was bleeding.
“In my mind, I thought we were just going to load and go,” she said.
However, when she arrived, the situation had escalated.
“She was already crowning and didn’t want us to move her into the car.”
Seat briefly considered driving to hospital and delivering en route.
“I said, let’s drive and you can deliver in the car as long as we are on our way.”
Concerned because the pregnancy was considered high risk, she contacted emergency control and requested assistance in case complications arose.
“I thought to myself, what am I going to do?” she said.
Firefighters from the Salt River Fire Station were dispatched to assist. By the time they arrived, Seat had already delivered a healthy baby boy.
Both mother and baby were assessed on scene before being escorted to Mowbray Maternity Hospital for further care.
Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, Alderman JP Smith, praised the off-duty firefighter.
“Our firefighters have a proud track record of bringing newborns into the world and this case is no different, but all the more sweet and touching, considering the family connection. Well done to Firefighter Seat for remaining calm under pressure, and congratulations to her and her family on the new arrival,” he said.
The City said the mother and baby were stable following the incident.