Preparing to do a routine checkpoint on a Friday morning, Constable Clinton Parker was expecting an ordinary day on the job patrolling the Highways in Taranaki.
However, around 8:30AM, Constable Parker was faced with more than your everyday road stop. Shortly after observing a man appearing to behave suspiciously around a car in Inglewood, Constable Parker was approached by the man, who announced his wife was in labour and couldn’t make it to hospital.
With ambulance and other help still on their way, Constable Parker raced into action to assist the mother, who gave birth shortly after. When Constable Parker lifted the baby onto the mother, he noticed the umbilical cord was wrapped around the baby’s neck.
“It all happened so quickly,” says Constable Parker, who ensured the cord was untangled and the baby was breathing. An ambulance arrived shortly after.
Despite the cord being wrapped around the baby’s neck, and a delivery on the side of the road, both mother and baby were well.
Constable Parker stresses he was just there to assist. “It was all the mother, I just ended up being in the right place at the right time.”
“The mother did extremely well, especially under the circumstances.”
While he has two children of his own, Constable Parker didn't expect to attend another birth any time soon. “In ten years on the job I haven’t been in a situation like this before.”
All in all, it was just another day on the job for Constable Parker, who got back to his usual duties once the ambulance arrived.
“This is what makes the job so exciting and rewarding, when you’re part of something like this.”
ENDS