Police help Elsies River mom give birth to a baby boy

A pair of Cape Town police officers helped a mother give birth to a healthy baby boy in the early hours of Thursday morning, 20 January.

POLICE RESPOND TO WOMAN IN LABOUR

South African Police Service (SAPS) spokesperson Warrant Officer Joseph Swartbooi said Constable Lucinda Raffie and Sergeant Gert Swart went beyond the call of duty at approximately 3:40 on Thursday morning when they responded to a report of a woman in labour.

“Upon arrival at the address in Tiara Way in Leonsdale, Elsiesriver, they found a man and a woman waiting outside on the arrival of an ambulance, as the woman was in labour,” said Swartbooi.

Raffie and Swart told the woman to go back inside and make herself comfortable. She told the officers that the baby was about to come and they reached for their gloves.

The police officers helped the mother to deliver the baby – with guidance from medical personnel over the phone. The child was handed to the medical personnel when they arrived at the scene.

“The family of the newborn praised the response and reaction of the mentioned police members,” said Swartbooi.

Earlier this month, on 2 January, volunteers responded to a mother in labour. They saw that the newborn’s head was already crowning and helped the young woman give birth to a healthy baby girl on Camps Bay Beach.

“The team then assisted the mom with the delivery of the baby and ensured both mom and baby could wait undisturbed until paramedics arrived,” said the City of Cape Town.