Relieved couple thank firefighters for delivering their baby daughter

• Josh Beardmore and Alice Hearle couldn't get to the hospital in time for the birth
• They asked members of Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service to deliver their baby
• With a roadside blaze in its closing stages, the crew immediately went to help

A couple in urgent need of help delivering their baby daughter have thanked hero firefighters for stepping in as midwives after dealing with a blaze.

Crew members from Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service were tackling a blaze at a boat building site when Josh Beardmore drove by with partner Alice Hearle on the way to Royal Cornwall Hospital in Truro.

When Ms Hearle's labour rapidly progressed, and it became clear they would not be at the hospital in time, the to-be father opted to pull over at Cockwells boatbuilding site in Penryn to seek assistance from the firefighters.

With the blaze in its closing stages, the crew immediately went to help, moving a fire engine in front of the car to block the view from the road, while firefighter Katie Hoskins took charge of the delivery and her colleague Rosie Tonkin spoke to the ambulance service over the phone.

Baby Olive was born safe and well at 2.36pm on May 16 and has now been reunited with the crew who helped bring her into the world, along with her parents and brother Teddy, aged two.

A couple in urgent need of help delivering their baby daughter have thanked hero firefighters for stepping in as midwives after dealing with a blaze. Pictured (L-R): Rosie Tonkin who spoke to the ambulance over the phone, Katie Hoskins holding the baby she delivered, mother Alice Hearle and father Josh Beardmore

Baby Olive was born safe and well at 2.36pm on May 16

The family returned to thank Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service for their help. Ms Hearle said: 'If they were nervous, they didn't show it at all. They were so comforting and took control of the situation'

Mr Beardmore, a lifeboat volunteer with the RNLI, said: 'We were in the car and had just got down the road when Alice said "I've got to push, the baby's coming".

'I knew about the fire at Cockwells because the road had been closed and I had seen all the news reports. I had been keeping an eye on it in case we had to go a different way to the hospital.

'I knew the fire brigade would more than likely be down there. When the ambulance service told me to pull over I thought, "I know exactly where I can go".

'I waved over at the guys and said "I think I need a bit of a hand here, my missus is having a baby".'

Ms Hearle's waters had broken a couple of days before her due date and so the couple had gone to get checked over at Royal Cornwall Hospital.

They returned home to rest and were booked for an induction at 4pm on May 16. But at around 1pm that day, her labour suddenly progressed and they set off for the hospital.

Describing the response of the fire crews, Mr Beardmore added: 'They were amazing. They dropped everything. The two girls were straight in the car and said, "you look after Alice and we'll deal with the baby".'

Ms Hearle added: 'If they were nervous, they didn't show it at all. They were so comforting and took control of the situation.

'I didn't have time to be worried. I was just in the zone, I wasn't really thinking. After about three pushes, the baby was out and she cried straight away so I knew she was okay.'

After the Falmouth residents went to thank the crew, Ms Hearle, a mobile hairdresser, added: 'It was nice to go back and say thank you and talk about it.

'I wanted to say thank you to them for being so calm and jumping in like they did. One of the guys even noted the exact time that she was born. Little things like that mean a lot.

'It wasn't the water birth I had planned but I actually feel really proud and positive about the birth.'

Kath Billing, chief fire officer at Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service, said: 'Every day our crews go above and beyond to serve the people of Cornwall.

'I am so pleased that Olive arrived safely and I am immensely proud of the crews that helped with her delivery. They are a testament to the service and their profession.'

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