Airport staff helps deliver baby in departure lounge

By Harrison Moore via SWNS

Staff at Luton Airport delivered a baby in the departure lounge.

The mother, who did not speak English, was flying home to Bulgaria when she went into labor.

A pilot called 999 and then staff followed instructions over the phone from the ambulance service.

The baby was wrapped in a blanket from a shop in the terminal after being born at around 8 a.m. on Aug. 27.

A security officer who spoke Bulgarian assisted as a translator.

Terminal manager Melanie Horwood, who delivered the baby, said staff just wanted to help.

She said: "It's really funny how the adrenaline kicks in and you just realize there's a job to be done, somebody's in distress, somebody's needs some help and you've just got to really go for it."

Megan Bryne, a call handler for East of England Ambulance Service, said she has helped deliver eight babies but this was "definitely a one-in-a-million call."

She added: "You got that added challenge that she's in a very public area."

Melanie organized screens to provide privacy and blocked off the area from other passengers.

Some passengers and staff broke into applause once it was clear the baby had arrived safely.

Alex Moldovan, a guest experience ambassador at the airport, held the mother's hand through the whole experience.

She said: "When I saw the baby, it was crying, and I wanted to cry as well as it was so emotional."

Paramedics took the mom and baby to the hospital to be checked over, and both were healthy and later discharged from hospital

The mother and baby have since returned home.