‘There’s no manual for that’: Perth couple deliver baby on side of freeway
A Perth couple has described the chaos that unfolded after their child was born in the front seat of their car on a freeway.
A couple had to navigate across four lanes of a busy freeway to deliver their baby after they were caught off guard by its surprise arrival.
Wendy Graham gave birth to daughter Macy on the side of the Mitchell Freeway in Perth’s northern suburbs on Monday morning, as her and husband Courtney tried to dash to the King Edward Memorial Hospital in time.
Mr Graham told 9 News he heard an “almighty scream” from his wife as he was driving, and turned around to see the head of their baby.
“I’ve ripped it across four lanes of traffic on the freeway, cut off a few motorists, went through some roadworks and knocked over some traffic cones,” he said.
“I ran over the passenger side and by then she is two-thirds of the way out.”
The parents safely delivered Macy in the emergency lane of the freeway, but described the panicked moments following the birth.
“There’s no manual for that – it’s one of those don’t think, just do moments,” Mr Graham said.
“It was a relief. The first few minutes were definitely the scariest.”
The Grahams were concerned as Macy began to turn blue in the few minutes after she was born, but they were on the phone to paramedics who guided them through how to help their baby breath.
The family had planned a “natural birth” but may have needed to be more careful with what they wished for, Ms Graham said.
“It doesn’t get much more natural than that – giving birth on the side of the freeway,” she said.
In hospital for only a day, the family stopped for a quick drink on their way back home.
“We did treat ourselves to a beer,” Mr Graham said.
“The best beer I’ve ever had,” Ms Graham said.
Qantas pilot named as crash victim
A Qantas pilot has been named as one of three victims who died in a horror mid-air crash in Sydney on Saturday.
Five injured in gas explosion at campground
Five people have been injured in a gas explosion at a campground in South Australia, with two of them in a serious condition.
Seaplane ditches into ocean at holiday hotspot
An investigation is underway after a seaplane carrying five people ditched into the ocean at a popular tourist hotspot.