A baby girl who was delivered on a luxury garage forecourt by police, the suspects they were questioning and the mum’s aunt, is set to be named ‘Mercedes’.
Linda Frimpong, 28, was stuck in traffic in a taxi on her way to Homerton Hospital yesterday when she realised her baby was in no mood to hang around.
Her family, also in the car, spotted police officers questioning three suspects outside a Mercedes Benz garage in Rick Roberts Way, Stratford, and decided to ask for help.
Dad Christoper Akinyemi, a 31-year-old Afrobeat singer, said: “Police were talking with the suspects, and when I jumped out of the cab to meet them they thought I was one of the suspects as well!
“They were about to start questioning me, and I said ‘my missus is in labour – you have to help us!’”
When the officers and suspects realised the urgency of the situation they rushed to Linda’s side, as her aunt, 43-year-old Flora Thomas, helped deliver the baby in front of the crowd of 10 people gathered round.
“The three suspects were really helpful,” said Linda. “They gave us towels and blankets – I don’t know where they got it…
“They were telling me to breathe in and breathe out, but I was just so conscious of not exposing myself!”
Within minutes, the baby girl was delivered safely, weighing six pounds and four ounces.
“It was like watching a movie with a happy ending,” said Flora, an NHS administrator.
“When the baby came out I didn’t know what to do, but all of a sudden those three suspects came with towels, and I wrapped up the baby while we waited for the ambulance to arrive.”
She was taken to Homerton Hospital, where tests showed the tot was fit and healthy.
PC Robert Morgan, an officer for the Tower Hamlets transport team, said: “We deal with all sorts of incidents, however I wasn’t expecting this today. The mother was not keen on my suggestion of calling the baby girl Mercedes!”
But in an apparent U-turn, the family, of Meath Road, Stratford, said Mercedes is now their “first choice” name.
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