Snowbound mother gives birth in back of mountain rescue vehicle

December 23, 2009 by Shawn Douglas
Filed under: News

A mother who was snowed in was picked up by a mountain rescue team to be taken to the hospital, giving birth upon arrival.

Jenny and Curtis Kenyon Walsh, of Hyde in Greater Manchester, weren’t expecting their baby for another month. But the baby had other plans.

Jenny Walsh felt contractions and called an ambulance to their home. However, a winter storm had left so much snow that paramedics couldn’t get their ambulance up the mountain to the home. The medical team was forced to recruit the Glossop Mountain Rescue to help yesterday afternoon.

The rescue team’s Rick Fry told the Manchester Evening News: “It’s not the sort of thing we train for. There had been heavy snowfall and the ambulance people could not get up to the street. They had to walk up by foot and asked for us to help get mum to the hospital.”

The four-man team reached her home in a specially-equipped Land Rover. Jenny Walsh, her mother and a female ambulance medic loaded up and the team set off towards Tameside General Hospital.

“It was all happening so quickly,” said Jenny Walsh. “I was quite worried. Luckily my mum had not been able to get to work because of the snow and she was there to help me.”

Meanwhile, Curtis Kenyon was attending his work-sponsored Christmas party at the village pub when Jenny called. “I was just getting my first pint when I got the call from Jenny saying go to the hospital,” he told the BBC.

“I was pacing the hospital corridors,” he said. “I was really worried about them both. The weather was awful and the traffic was really heavy, but I couldn’t do anything.”

When the rescue team arrived to the car park of the hospital, Jenny Walsh couldn’t wait any longer.

“We were just outside the hospital when her water broke and the baby had to be delivered in the back of the van,” said Fry, of the rescue team. “We ran out to the maternity ward and a midwife and doctor came to help. We’ve never had so many people in the car before.”

“I thought she was going to arrive before we got to hospital,” said Jenny Walsh. “I was so relieved to get there and see Curtis and a midwife.”

Leah Miya Walsh, who weighed in at 4 pounds, 12 ounces, was delivered in the back of the van.

“She is tiny and very beautiful,” said Jenny. “We are looking forward to telling her all about her dramatic arrival when she is a bit older.”

“I am so grateful to everyone who helped, the paramedics, the mountain rescue, the neighbors and most of all, my mum,” she added.