Victoria Police say it was a “truly remarkable” experience when they assisted with a woman giving birth near the city’s waterfront earlier this summer.
VicPD Const. Mandeep Sohi says he was supervising a local event when he was flagged down for a medical emergency on Wharf Street near Government Street.
“A passerby alerted on-site emergency personnel, saying a woman was in labour and needed immediate assistance,” said VicPd in a release Friday.
“The officer located the woman in active labour and immediately provided support, working alongside members of St. John Ambulance to ensure the safety of both mother and baby.”
BC Emergency Health Services says two ambulances were dispatched to the scene, one outfitted with primary care paramedics and another with advanced care paramedics, as well as two members of the paramedic bike squad.
By the time they arrived, however, the baby had already been delivered and appeared “healthy,” according to VicPD.
BCEHS says both mom and baby were then taken to hospital in “stable condition.”
“It was a truly remarkable scene,” said Sohi. “One minute you’re ensuring public safety at an event, and the next you’re assisting in bringing a new life into the world.”
“These are the moments that remind us why we do this job; it’s incredibly humbling and rewarding,” he said.
VicPD Staff Sgt. Shawn Robson says he’s grateful for the efforts of first responders and bystanders who helped with the baby’s delivery.
“This was a challenging situation requiring a rapid response and compassionate care,” he said Friday.
“Our priority was the health and well-being of the mother and her baby,” he added.
“We are respecting the family’s privacy and will not be releasing further details at this time.”
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