Caring neighbour comes to the rescue and delivers couple's baby girl at home during coronavirus lockdown

Baby Sophia was born on Thursday, April 16 shortly after 5.30pm and weighed 5lb 14oz – and it was neighbour Joanne Naylor who came to the rescue when it became clear that the paramedics would not arrive in time to support mum Helen Wilson and dad Trevor Robson through the birth.

Joanne, from Murton, rushed in to help the couple as mum Helen’s contractions started to happen less than a minute apart.

But as she started pushing, Joanne could see the umbilical cord was wrapped around the baby girl’s neck.

With the help of the emergency call handler on the other end of the phone, she delivered the baby safely.

She told the Echo: “I got the baby out and whipped the chord from round her neck, wrapped her in towels and rubbed her and rubbed her.

“Then she made a beautiful, almighty scream. It was absolutely amazing, especially in these dark times.”

Paramedics arrived minutes later and began to take care of Helen, while Joanne held on to little Sophia for a cuddle.

The crews then transported the family of three, from Federation Square in Murton, to Sunderland Royal Hospital, to the applause of everyone in the street.

Joanne added: “That day will live in my memory until the day I die.

“Everyone in Murton was buzzing, it was just amazing – everyone was on a high.”

Praising Joanne for her actions, mum Helen, 35, said: “For Joanne to deliver the baby is amazing.

“We feel content now Sophia is here and is OK. She is just beautiful.

“When I came out on the stretcher the whole street was out clapping. It was quite emotional.”

Dad Trevor, 34, said the family are delighted with their little arrival, with son Jonathon becoming a big brother to Sophia.

He said: “It all happened within 20 minutes.

“I had rang the delivery suite at Sunderland Royal and they said it could be early contractions but when I rang them a third time and said her waters had broken, they told me to come in – but the baby was coming.

“Helen’s sister Marianne Wilson lives two doors down so she took Jonathon to her house and asked Joanne to help.

“Sophia was then delivered in the sitting room but the cord was around her neck.

“Joanne managed to pull it off and she started crying straight away.

“It was really emotional.”

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