Strandfontein National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) volunteers were key players in helping a woman give birth to her son on New Year’s Day.
Mollieny Mushayi, 27, from Zimbabwe, arrived at the sea rescue base reporting contractions at 3pm on Wednesday January 1.
Lakin Seconds, a fourth-year medical student, and Tammy Pasensie, basic ambulance assistant and emergency care practitioner (ECP) paramedic student, sprang into action and 40 minutes later the little boy was born at the base.
Ms Seconds, from Plumstead, said it was her first delivery and that it was amazing to have been part of bringing a new life into the world.
“It was so surreal. I thought we had more time before the baby was supposed to be born. I went to her only thinking we had to check vitals and make sure she was okay as we waited for the ambulance. But I hadn’t anticipated that we would be delivering the baby ourselves,” she said.
Ms Seconds said everything she had learned at university came flooding back.
“It also reminded me that I chose the right profession. I wouldn’t have asked to start the year any other way. I am so blessed to have been involved in this little miracle,” she said.
Netcare 911 ambulance services, the Western Cape emergency medical services (EMS) and City of Cape Town disaster risk management volunteer officers, who were on stand-by at Strandfontein Beach, also came to the station to assist after the baby was born.
Ms Mushayi and her son were transported to hospital by Netcare 911 ambulance and both are reportedly doing well.
During the birth another woman was being treated for a dislocated knee at the base. She was transported to hospital by EMS ambulance.