Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
Baby born in a Fiat en route to hospital
Shelley Berni failed to make it even as far as the hospital car park before giving birth to baby Lucia in the backseat of a Fiat Punto.
The 45-year-old and her husband Paolo raced to the William Harvey when she went into labour at their home in Faversham on August 11.
But little Lucia was determined not to wait, arriving into the world on a housing estate on the outskirts of Ashford.
Mr Berni, 47, had darted along the tight and twisty A251 when his wife’s contractions started but could not get to the hospital in time.
“I got stuck behind some people but it I didn’t risk an overtake,” he said.
“When we were going through the housing estate I was informed in quite a loud voice that she was giving birth.”
Mr Berni, who had brought his aunt, Carole Lightfoot, along to help, pulled over just before the Eureka Park roundabout.
“We were either side of Shelley as she pushed,” he said. “There wasn’t really any time to think but we reckon Lucia was born at about 8.43pm.
“We didn’t know if it was going to be a girl or boy and it was all slightly panicky, but hearing her cry helped calm us down as we knew that was a good sign.
“After the birth, I thought it would be quicker for us to get to the hospital than to call an ambulance.
“We wrapped Lucia up in what we could, I think it was some leggings. Shelley was on her back in the back of the car with the baby on top of her.
“I was driving on adrenaline and tried hard to concentrate with two screaming women giving a running commentary on what was going on.
“I parked up right by the entrance and within seconds there were about 10 nurses and doctors surrounding us.
“The umbilical cord was cut in the car and they were both checked over.”
Mr Berni says the eventful night is now something to laugh about. “People have told me to give Lucia the middle name Fiat – but it would have been better if I was driving a Ferrari,” he said.