| Ambulance staff member Bill Cowan was part of a team called out to a 999 call in February 2007 to take expectant mother Maureen McKay to Ninewells Hospital.
But the paramedic was forced to deliver Maureen’s baby himself when it became clear they would not reach the hospital in time.
Bill explained, “When we arrived, the mother was lying in the hallway and it looked like she was going to have the baby very soon.
“I explained to her that if I had to deliver the baby, it would be my eighth delivery and that there was nothing to worry about.
“We waited about 10 minutes and it was clear the baby wasn’t going to appear just then, so we got into the ambulance and headed towards Ninewells.”
But as the group neared the hospital, it became clear the baby’s arrival was imminent.
Bill and his colleague Jim McLaughlin were left with no choice but to deliver.
“There was an anxious moment when we realised Amy had the umbilical chord wrapped round her throat three times, but I managed to unwrap it and get her breathing normally.”
A grateful Maureen told the Tele, “The paramedics were just brilliant.
“They were wonderful and did their job so well. I couldn’t thank them enough.”
A year on Bill decided to mark Amy’s first birthday by calling round to the family house with flowers.
But, unfortunately, Maureen and her family had moved from Dundee to Arbroath.
When she heard about the visit, however, Maureen contacted the Tele in the hope of being able to express her gratitude for the “exceptional” service the two provided in her time of need.
“I just really wanted the opportunity to say a big thank-you to Bill,” she said.
“The job he did was terrific — the paramedics went completely above and beyond the call of duty.
“When I heard they had called round to my old house, I was so disappointed to have missed them. I thought it showed what kind of person he is that he remembered Amy’s birthday.
“I didn’t find out about his visit until over a week later.
“I wanted to thank him but didn’t know how to get in touch.”
The Tele was able to trace Bill and organised an emotional reunion at the Scottish Ambulance Dundee headquarters in School Road.
Maureen said, “It was great that we got to meet up again.
“I was delighted to be able to express our thanks.” |
