By Jessica Micallef
Gisborne CFA firefighter Luke Hammond’s journey to work on Wednesday morning was no ordinary drive.
Mr Hammond said he was heading to work when he “saw a car pulled over the side of the road”.
The trained firefighter is used to stressful situations but said a baby’s birth was the last thing he was expecting.
“I was on my way in to work about 7.30am and I was heading on Dalrymple Road, heading on to the freeway,” Mr Hammond said. “I could see a person who was bent over … with another person who appeared to be helping. So I slowed down just to check.
“I could hear screaming … I pulled over and approached the people and said: ‘I’m a firefighter, can I help?’”
Mr Hammond spoke with paramedics via phone while baby Hope was brought in to the world with the help of her nan.
“The baby came quite quickly – the little girl’s head was already out when I got there,” he said.
“The rest of it happened really quickly … I assisted the baby with breathing.”
Mr Hammond praised the efforts of Hope’s mother and nan before he arrived at the scene.
“They were doing really well,” Mr Hammond said. “They were understandably a bit stressed, but they had it under control.
“They were doing what they needed to do. They stopped instead of rushing to the hospital.”
Mr Hammond said his only concern was the wellbeing of Hope and her mother.
“I felt good to help and it felt even better to hear that mum and the little girl Hope were doing well,” he said.
Gisborne CFA officer in charge Sam Strang said the brigade was proud of Luke’s effort.
“We are trained to remain calm in stressful environments, but … to be faced with the particular situation would have been very confronting,” Captain Strang said.
“Luke displayed true professionalism in remaining calm and offering assistance.”
“Everyone says, ‘They don’t like the term hero,” Mr Hammond said.
Mr Hammond was reunited with Hope and her mother Kate on Sunday when they visited the Gisborne CFA station to say thank you, along with the rest of the family.
