Baby born on M-way hard shoulder after mother gets stuck in traffic

A baby boy was born on the hard shoulder of a motorway after his expectant mother got stuck in traffic after a fuel spill.

The father-to-be made a frantic 999 call just before 5.30pm on Saturday to say his wife was about to give birth and they were stuck in queues on the M42 east of Birmingham.

Pc James Barry rushed to help the family but by the time he arrived minutes after the call, the mother had delivered a boy, Tommy, and was sitting in the back of her Vauxhall Zafira cradling her new son - born between junctions nine and eight of the motorway.

Pc Barry, from the Central Motorway Policing Group (CMPG), said: "By the time we arrived mum had done all the hard work and we there to make sure everyone was OK.

"The family were driving home on the motorway and had got caught up in traffic following a diesel spillage. The lady, who already has two sons aged two and four, who were in the car at the time, suddenly went into labour which was a complete shock as the baby wasn't due for another three weeks.

"The husband did the right thing and pulled over onto the hard shoulder and called us for help.

"He told us that it had all happened so fast that within 20 minutes of his wife going into labour she had given birth.

"The ambulance crew were struggling to get to us as the motorway was blocked, so we blue-lighted the family to the motorcycle museum where the crew were able to meet us and take over.

"It was lovely to receive a photo of the baby named Tommy and we are glad that they are all doing well."

Tommy's grandfather, Terry Kemp, spoke about the unexpected arrival on Facebook.

He posted on Saturday: "Stuck in a car park on the M42 and my new grandson has just been born on the hard shoulder. Chuffed.com."

He added: "Got my old ticker going again, but mom and baby are doing well."