Basildon baby is a g-Lee for family

Mum Mary Cole went into labour on the evening of Monday, December 10th, at her home in Craylands. When Lee and crewmate emergency medical technician Penny Smith arrived, Mary was kneeling on the living room floor and it was clear the baby was not going to hang around for much longer.

The room was prepared with a maternity pack, and the crew alerted a local midwife to attend. On hand to help was Mary's sister Donna Turner and their mum Ann Turner, while husband Roger, daughter Paege and son Ashley were also present to witness the birth.

Mary continued to experience strong and regular contractions and felt the need to get into a position to push. In no time at all, baby was emerging into the world. Quick-thinking Lee noticed that the baby had the umbilical cord around his neck, which could not be looped over his head. This meant Lee and Penny had to clamp the cord and cut it, so they could safely carry on with the delivery.

Before they knew it, little Reggee-Lee arrived, weighing 6lb 1oz. The midwife arrived shortly afterwards to check Mary and Reggee-Lee over, who were understandably wanting to take it easy following such a quick birth!

Mary said: "Lee and Penny were so good with me, bearing in mind I didn't want to have a home birth and kept telling them so - I just remember them saying 'there's no time'! It's not only my first home birth, but the quickest labour so all in all it was an experience."

Reggee-Lee is the couple's sixth child; as well Paege (14) and Ashley (16),  the brood includes Cydnee (boy, 18 months), Harry (8),  and Jack (11).

The meet-up took some time to arrange as little Reggee-Lee was feeling poorly because of a condition called strep pneumonia which meant a brief hospital stay. Thankfully now he is fighting fit, and arrangements are being made for his christening next month.

Lee and Mary met up with one another on Wednesday to catch up, and Reggee-Lee was keen to get to know the man who safely delivered him, and whom he is named after.

Mary explained: "My husband and I were talking about names, and we decided that we wanted Lee's attached to Reggee to recognise how much his help meant to us. Both of them were fabulous and I'm so glad they were there to help."

Lee said it was the first time he had taken charge of an imminent birth: "It was clear that there was no time to go to hospital so we had to act quickly. We did offer gas and air, but Mary did it all very naturally; I was very impressed.

"I'm very flattered that Roger and Mary have decided to name Reggee-Lee after me; the whole experience was extraordinary and it's wonderful to see him and mum getting on so well."

ENDS