St John NT coach through 11 births over the phone in 2023

St John NT helped deliver 11 tiny Territorians over the phone in 2023, with many of them born in the back seat of a vehicle. Read one family’s dramatic story.

Luke and Sinead Featonby, with son Jimmy and baby Dawn, reunite with St John NT dispatcher Kenneth Viegas. Picture: Supplied

The miracle of childbirth can be a lengthy process.

But sometimes it can happen so fast you don’t have time to get out of the car.

For 11 Territory families that was exactly the case this year and St John NT emergency medical dispatchers had to help coach the births over the phone.

One family who welcomed a new arrival in the front seat of their HiLux was the Featonbys.

There were only 19 minutes between when mum Sinead’s water broke and when baby Dawn was born.

Dad Luke spent that time on the phone talking to dispatcher Kenneth Viegas, who was just six months into the job.

Luke and Sinead Featonby, with son Jimmy and baby Dawn, reunite with St John NT dispatcher Kenneth Viegas. Picture: Supplied

“The show was over by the time the paramedics arrived,” Mr Featonby said.

“I got to cut the cord then and there in the Hilux, it was beautiful and quite special.

“The whole experience is burned into my memory, it’s never how you expect it, we imagined a birth suite and essential oils, we never thought she’d be born in the front seat of the Hilux.”

Mr Viegas remembers the incident as being quite moving.

“Luke did an amazing job following instructions,” he said.

“Both of my parents were doctors, my dad delivered babies his entire life and now that I’ve helped Luke and Sinead with their baby, it made it much more special for me.”

St John NT received 260 calls from patients in labour, including the 11 deliveries they talked through over the phone.

Another six babies were brought into the world in the back of ambulances.

Last year, baby Zeron Fejo was born at the traffic lights in Coolalinga.