British heroine delivers baby in storm shelter as 186mph winds hits Queensland
A British midwife was today described as the "heroine of Cyclone Yasi" after delivering a child in the midst of the massive storm.
Carol Weeks was on holiday with her husband Andrew in Queensland to celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary when they had to take shelter.
As she bunked down with about 1,000 others inside the Redlynch State College in Cairns, a request for medical help was made.
Akiko Pruss had gone into labour a day early, just six hours before the full force of Yasi hit Cairns, which was already buffeted by powerful winds and heavy rain.
Her help for Ms Pruss and her husband Christian drew praise from Queensland Premier Anna Bligh, who hailed her as "a heroine". Miss Bligh said news of the birth "will bring a lot of smiles to faces in that centre today after such a difficult and distressing night".
However Mrs Weeks, 46, who works in the ante-natal department at Watford General Hospital, said it was "all part of the job". She told Channel Nine television network: "When the call went out for someone medical, I told them 'I'm a midwife' and they said 'oh good, there's a baby due tomorrow'.
"It was an absolutely perfect natural delivery. The baby is doing great. She's breastfeeding and mum's wonderful. Everything went absolutely perfect."
Today her daughter Emma, 22, said she and her brother Scott, 18, were brimming with pride. She said: "We have been very, very worried, and in constant touch with mum and dad because of the cyclone.
"My aunt rang to ask us if we'd heard the news and I was really scared but then she said mum had helped deliver a baby. We are really proud. It's the sort of thing mum would do. " She said the baby had been named Lucia, adding: "It's been pretty tough - mum and dad have not slept for 48 hours helping out. Apart from the storm they've been having a wonderful time."
Mrs Weeks and her husband, 47, planned the trip to celebrate their wedding anniversary on October 5. They travelled to Singapore before arriving in Port Douglas and had been due to fly to Sydney but were unable to leave when the airport was closed.
Local authorities said they were surprised to learn at daybreak that no one had been reported killed by the winds of up to 186mph.
Emergency services assessed the damage across a disaster zone stretching more than 190 miles and used chain saws to cut through trees and other debris blocking roads. Thousands have been left homeless.
"Nothing's been spared. The devastation is phenomenal, like nothing I've ever experienced," said David Brook, the manager of a resort at Mission Beach, where the eye of the storm hit the coast around midnight.
