There was an unexpected arrival in the departure lounge at Luton Airport when a passenger suddenly went into labour.
Airport staff and passing air crew went to the shocked woman's aid, while Megan Byrne, a 999 call handler for the East of England Ambulance Service, talked them through making a successful and safe delivery.
Megan explained: "The 999 alert was raised by a passing pilot, who followed my instructions to prepare the mother for delivery.
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"Melanie Horwood, the terminal duty officer, arrived on scene, took control of the situation and began assisting the birth, which was progressing quickly.
"The pilot relayed my instructions onto her until the baby was born and I could hear it crying in the background."
Various members of staff from Luton Airport offered assistance, including retail staff and Luton Airport Fire Department, by bringing first aid supplies, blankets and even translating what was happening to the mother, who didn't speak English.
The ambulance crew arrived shortly after the baby's birth, and mother and baby were transported to Luton and Dunstable Hospital.
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Megan recently travelled to Luton Airport to meet the people she had talked through delivering the baby.
The mum and baby, who have returned to their own country, are believed to be doing well, a spokesperson for the ambulance service said.
Megan has worked for the East of England Ambulace Service for four years, having decided while studying for a geography degree that she really wanted to work in an ambulance call centre.
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This was not the first baby she has helped deliver over the phone. "I’ve been quite lucky," she said. "I’ve been involved in delivering around eight babies.
"Sometimes callers are in very obscure locations, such as the side of the road, when people have not made it to hospital in time, but never before in an airport!"
Since helping deliver the baby, Megan has started a new role in the ambulance service, where she will bring her knowledge of call handling to the Patient Safety Teams.
If you are interested in working for the East of England Ambulance Service, visit eastamb.nhs.uk/join-the-team.
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