Medics reunited with twins they helped deliver in dramatic premature birth

Reunion: Baby Leonard is held by medic Rashed Khan, left, while Chris New-Tolley holds Winston, right, in front of mum Tatiana
London Ambulance Service
Ross Lydall @RossLydall28 September 2017

London Ambulance Service medics who helped deliver premature twins not knowing whether they would survive have been reunited with the baby boys.

Chris New-Tolley and Rashed Khan were taking Tatiana Leduc, who was 32 weeks pregnant, from her home in Islington to University College London hospital in January when she started to deliver her first baby, Winston, but he got stuck.

They continued on to hospital where Winston and, 20 minutes later, brother Leonard were delivered safely. They weighed just 3lb 9oz and 3lb respectively. Both were kept in intensive care for three weeks.

Ms Leduc, 44, had called 999 when her waters broke, with a fast-response paramedic arriving within six minutes. Because an ambulance turned up soon after, the medics decided to take her to hospital rather than have her give birth at home.

Leonard and Winston were treated in intensive care after being born prematurely
London Ambulance Service

“I couldn’t feel the babies so I did feel afraid but my little boy and my mother were there so I had to remain calm,” she recalled. “I concentrated on my breathing and just tried to reassure everyone else.

“We were five minutes from the hospital when I said I needed to push. They stopped the ambulance and I delivered the first baby’s feet but he was stuck, so then we continued on to hospital. I didn’t know if the baby was alive.”

Mr New-Tolley, a paramedic, and Mr Khan, an emergency crew member, had left the hospital not knowing whether the babies would survive. Ms Leduc was determined to track them down to say thank you. They met recently at Smithfield ambulance station.

She said: “They were so quick, they were so calm, they stayed with me throughout. There were so many people at UCH: a team for twin one, a team for twin two, and a team for me and also all the students.

“Amongst all those people, it was so great to have the ambulance crew looking after me and concerned for me. I wanted to find them and say thank you tell them that the babies are healthy.”

Mr New-Tolley, 24, who had never delivered a baby before, said: “It was nerve-racking because I was worried for the babies and I didn’t know what happened.

“It was amazing when Tatiana got in touch and it was so lovely to see them again. They are gorgeous babies and it is so rewarding to know we helped to ensure their safe arrival.”

He added: “When you’re training, you’re told it’s usually just a matter of catching the baby when it comes out and that complications are very rare. But on this job we seemed to have all the complications!”

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