London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Friday, Jun 20, 2025

Police help deliver baby in car on busy Exeter roadside

Police help deliver baby in car on busy Exeter roadside

Two "amazing" police officers helped deliver a baby in the front seat of a car after being flagged down by the father-to-be.

Lucy Kelly's waters broke while the 25-year-old was being driven to hospital in Exeter by her partner Chris Haggar on 27 December.

Mr Haggar managed to get the attention of two passing police vehicles.

Within five minutes of the female officers arriving, baby Lily was delivered at the roadside.

The couple were driving from their home in Cranbrook to the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital, a journey of about 20 minutes.

Ms Kelly said: "We were only two or three minutes away from the hospital but it all just happened so quickly".

"We had been in the car for five or ten minutes when my waters went and Chris said I should call the ambulance rather than the midwife because we needed help now.

"So I got them on speaker phone and we were both shouting - it was tense."

She said the paramedic call handlers told them to pull over, by which time the baby was being born.


Lily was due on Christmas Day but arrived two days later

Mr Haggar then managed to flag down the police vehicles, and the two officers came over to help.

Ms Kelly said "within five minutes of the police arriving it was all over. They were amazing".


PC Gemma Clatworthy is one of the officers who helped deliver baby Lily

She said the experience was very different to the birth of her first daughter, which happened in hospital.

"Olivia's birth was really controlled and I was really relaxed because I knew I was in the best place.

"But this time it all happened in less than an hour, on two paracetamol and in a car."

When the ambulance arrived, Ms Kelly "shuffled onto a stretcher" and they were taken to hospital - where Mr Haggar cut the umbilical cord and baby Lily was given a clean bill of health.


The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.

Ms Kelly added "We liked the name Grace anyway, but then one of the ambulance staff was called Grace so it seemed to fit quite well as a middle name.

"We are just lucky there were no complications and it was quick."

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
16 Billion Login Credentials Leaked in Unprecedented Cybersecurity Breach
Senate hearing on who was 'really running' Biden White House kicks off
Iranian Military Officers Reportedly Seek Contact with Reza Pahlavi, Signal Intent to Defect
FBI and Senate Investigate Allegations of Chinese Plot to Influence the 2020 Election in Biden’s Favor Using Fake U.S. Driver’s Licenses
Vietnam Emerges as Luxury Yacht Destination for Ultra‑Rich
Plans to Sell Dutch Embassy in Bangkok Face Local Opposition
China's Iranian Oil Imports Face Disruption Amid Escalating Middle East Tensions
Trump's $5 Million 'Trump Card' Visa Program Draws Nearly 70,000 Applicants
DGCA Finds No Major Safety Concerns in Air India's Boeing 787 Fleet
Airlines Reroute Flights Amid Expanding Middle East Conflict Zones
Elon Musk's xAI Seeks $9.3 Billion in Funding Amid AI Expansion
Trump Demands Iran's Unconditional Surrender Amid Escalating Conflict
Israeli Airstrike Targets Iranian State TV in Central Tehran
President Trump is leaving the G7 summit early and has ordered the National Security Council to the Situation Room
Taiwan Imposes Export Ban on Chips to Huawei and SMIC
Israel has just announced plans to strike Tehran again, and in response, Trump has urged people to evacuate
Netanyahu Signals Potential Regime Change in Iran
Juncker Criticizes EU Inaction on Trump Tariffs
EU Proposes Ban on New Russian Gas Contracts
Analysts Warn Iran May Resort to Unconventional Warfare
Iranian Regime Faces Existential Threat Amid Conflict
Energy Infrastructure Becomes War Zone in Middle East
UK Home Secretary Apologizes Over Child Grooming Failures
Trump Organization Launches 5G Mobile Network and Golden Handset
Towcester Hosts 2025 English Greyhound Derby Amid Industry Scrutiny
Gary Oldman and David Beckham Knighted in King's Birthday Honours
Over 30,000 Lightning Strikes Recorded Across UK During Overnight Storms
Princess of Wales Returns to Public Duties at Trooping the Colour
Red Arrows Use Sustainable Fuel in Historic Trooping the Colour Flypast
Former Welsh First Minister Addresses Unionist Concerns Over Irish Language
Iran Signals Openness to Nuclear Negotiations Amid Ongoing Regional Tensions
France Bars Israeli Arms Companies from Paris Defense Expo
King Charles Leads Tribute to Air India Crash Victims at Trooping the Colour
Jack Pitchford Embarks on 200-Mile Walk to Support Stem Cell Charity
Surrey Hikers Take on Challenge of Climbing 11 Peaks in a Single Day
UK Deploys RAF Jets to Middle East Amid Israel-Iran Tensions
Two Skydivers Die in 'Tragic Accident' at Devon Airfield
Sainsbury's and Morrisons Accused of Displaying Prohibited Tobacco Ads
UK Launches National Inquiry into Grooming Gangs
Families Seek Closure After Air India Crash
Gold Emerges as Global Safe Haven Amid Uncertainty
Trump Reports $57 Million Earnings from Crypto Venture
Trump's Military Parade Sparks Concerns Over Authoritarianism
Nationwide 'No Kings' Protests Challenge Trump's Leadership
UK Deploys Jets to Middle East Amid Rising Tensions
Trump's Anti-War Stance Tested Amid Israel-Iran Conflict
Germany Holds First Veterans Celebration Since WWII
U.S. Health Secretary Dismisses CDC Vaccine Advisory Committee
Minnesota Lawmaker Melissa Hortman and Husband Killed in Targeted Attack; Senator John Hoffman and Wife Injured
Exiled Iranian Prince Reza Pahlavi Urges Overthrow of Khamenei Regime
×