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Policeman delivers baby on roadside

(Agencies)
Updated: 2008-10-10 14:40

London - A policeman who planned to pull over a 'reckless driver' found himself helping to deliver a baby on the roadside.

Natalia Nadel, 31, at Portland Hospital in London, with baby Nikol, born with the help of Pc Dan Wells on Fulham Road in London. [Agencies]

Policeman Dan Wells was on his way back to Fulham Police station in the early hours of the morning when he noticed a grey BMW driving erratically.

Michael Nadel had actually overtaken the police car to ask for help as his wife Natalia was in labour.

"He (Mr Nadel) was behind us and overtook then pulled in. I was about to have words with him about the way he was driving and then he said his wife was having a baby," Pc Wells said.

Mr Nadel, 39, returned to his wife Natalia, 31, but seconds later came back to the police to tell them the labour was moving faster than expected.

The Russian couple from Walton-on-Thames, Surrey, were on their way to the Portland Hospital in central London when Mrs Nadel started having contractions.

Policeman Wells opened the door and saw Mrs Nadel pushing the baby, when he noticed something was not right.

"The head was out and it was kind of blue. We could see the umbilical cord wrapped around the baby's neck," he said.

He quickly unwrapped the umbilical cord which was suffocating the baby's neck and restoring the oxygen supply to the infant.

Mr Nadel, a banker, said: "It was very dramatic. I'd like to say thanks to him. The policeman really helped us."

Baby Nikol, a girl, was born at 3am and weighed 2.95kg (6.4lbs).

"I just did what I thought at the time was right, " Pc Wells said later.