Dad saves baby’s life in bathroom floor birth

FISHERMAN Scott Howey landed the catch of his life after saving his baby daughter as she was born on his bathroom floor.

He was coached by phone to perform CPR on Lucia Grace after she stopped breathing and turned blue, with the umbilical cord wrapped around her neck.

The ordeal in Timaru on Saturday lasted only about seven minutes, but for Mr Howey and his wife, Amy, it seemed ‘‘like an eternity’’.

Mrs Howey went into labour at 4am on Saturday, with the baby crowning at about 6am.

‘‘We didn’t expect it to come so quickly. We thought we had enough time to drive to the hospital. We dialled 111 and they said they would be on their way,’’ Mr Howey said.

Mr Howey delivered the baby in the family’s bathroom, with their 3-year-old son, James, also nearby.

However, as his wife was relaying instructions from the 111 operator, he discovered Lucia had stopped breathing.

The operator advised him to perform CPR, and remove the cord.

‘‘I’m a fisherman, and I had practised CPR on an adult, years ago, but it is so much harder on a young baby who has never breathed before,’’ he said.

‘‘The lady on the other end of the phone was so calm, she was so clear in her instructions.’’

Mrs Howey said she was amazed at her husband’s composure. ‘‘He showed real strength.’’

Mr Howey said there were moments when even the 111 operator was not sure whether the baby would make it. ‘‘As soon as the operator heard the baby had gone blue, she said there was a chance of the baby not surviving.

‘‘But I did everything exactly as I was instructed. I can’t thank the 111 operator enough, she was amazing.

‘‘When she overheard the baby’s gurgling noises, she knew the baby was breathing. I could hear the relief in the operator’s voice.’’

Lucia was born weighing 7lb 6oz (3.34kg) at 6.19am on St Patrick’s Day. She was taken to hospital after her dramatic entry into the world, and doctors have given her the all clear.

‘‘One doctor at the Timaru Hospital asked me whether I wanted to apply for an obstetrician’s job,’’ Mr Howey said.