Mum, 29, gives birth at petrol forecourt 'in seconds' after rushing to hospital amid fuel chaos

A MUM gave birth “in seconds” on the back of a pick-up truck at a petrol forecourt as she was being rushed to hospital.

Stephanie Richardson, 29, delivered her third child Lucy Varley in the early hours of Friday morning at the Jet petrol station in Lanchester, County Durham.


Currently, large parts of the country is in the grip of fuel chaos with many petrol stations being forced to close as they await deliveries.

The mum, from Medomsley near Consett, had been due to be induced just four hours later but baby Lucy had other idea and made an appearance in the back of a Nissan pick-up truck instead.

Fortunately, Stephanie’s partner Matthew Varley, also 29, and their friend and midwife were on hand to ensure Lucy was delivered safely, weighing 6lb 15oz.

The drama started when Stephanie woke in the middle of the night with pain and knew her baby was coming.

She phoned the midwife who had been booked to deliver the baby at 8am but Stephanie told her she needed to come over now as Lucy was on her way.

Stephanie told the Chronicle Live: "We were going to the hospital with my partner driving, the midwife in the front and me on all fours in the back of our pick-up. There's no gas and air in the back of a truck.

"We got from Medomsley to St Bede's School and had to stop at the petrol station. It actually closes so it was pitch black.

“The midwife said to ring 999 but within seconds the baby was on the forecourt of the garage."

Both Stephanie and Matthew were concerned about the birth as their son Jake, now 14-months-old, had been born during lockdown and had spent time in intensive care and nearly died.

Fortunately, there weren’t any complications with the birth of Stephanie’s third child and Lucy was safely delivered by torchlight.

Following the birth, Lucy was taken to the University Hospital of North Durham.

TRIBUTE TO MIDWIFE

Stephanie has paid tribute to her midwife friend, saying she was “renowned in the area”.

She said: "I think we would have been a lot more scared – she was very calm. She's delivered babies in the hospital car park before, but never in a petrol station.

"I'm just so lucky she was there. It was only about 40 minutes from start to finish – my other labours were about eight hours. It was a big shock.”

Lucy is now back at home and getting to know her brother Jake and five-year-old sister Alice.

Asked if she would have any more kids, Stephanie replied: "I think after that, I think three is enough – three is a nice number, you can fit three kids in a car.”

Army personnel have now started delivering fuel today around the country.

Troops have hit the roads for the first time as Operation Escalin got underway.

Around 200 members of The Army, who were put on standby last week, will initially focus on the hardest-hit areas.

They include members of 3rd Logistic Support Regiment who have been in training with the petroleum industry logistics company Hoyers in Thurrock, Essex.

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