When Tony Donnelly crouched beside his car holding his newborn daughter, he found himself uttering words he never expected to say to emergency services: 'Baby's here!'
The Speedy Family Delivery History
This dramatic February arrival wasn't entirely unexpected given partner Kelsey Clarke's history of rapid labours. Their first child, Darci, had been born on August 11, 2020 after a relatively quick five-hour labour, weighing 6lbs 12oz.
Their second child, Jaxon, born in April 2024, provided a preview of what was to come. Living an hour from hospital in their rural home, Tony admitted 'I had to put my foot down' during the frantic drive. They barely made it through the maternity unit doors before Jaxon arrived just three minutes later, weighing 7lbs 1oz.
The Surprise Pregnancy Revelation
After two children, Tony hadn't considered expanding their family further. But in July 2024, while standing on a forecourt buying a Lexus, Kelsey's phone call changed everything. Her unusual question about how many car seats would fit in the back prompted the realisation they were expecting another baby.
'It was a bit of a surprise,' Tony admitted, wondering how they'd cope with two babies under a year old. He did purchase the Lexus but wisely kept their 'old faithful family Peugeot' too.
The Dramatic Roadside Delivery
Fast forward to February 25, a week before her due date, when Kelsey woke with cramps in the early hours. Around 2.30am, she felt a definite contraction while checking on Jaxon downstairs.
Tony, initially oblivious, eventually woke to Kelsey shouting: 'Tony get up, we need to go to the hospital, baby's coming!' After receiving an 'earful for tying my shoelaces too slowly' and thinking of his Lexus's upholstery, Tony grabbed the Peugeot keys.
The situation escalated rapidly when Kelsey's waters broke as she opened the passenger door. 'This was probably going to be the speediest delivery yet,' Tony recalled, feeling 'a pang of panic'.
Just minutes into their journey, Kelsey shouted that she needed to push and could feel the baby's head. Tony pulled over in a roadside parking bay on their village's main street, dialled 999 on the car speaker, grabbed towels from the boot and rushed to the passenger side.
By the time he squatted in front of Kelsey, their daughter's head and shoulders were fully visible. At 3.10am, just 40 minutes after Kelsey's first contractions, Tony caught their baby girl and wrapped her in a towel.
Aftermath and Homecoming
With Kelsey initially in shock, Tony rubbed their daughter's back and cleared mucus from her airway until she began to squeal. He switched on heated seats to keep them warm and draped towels over windows for privacy while waiting for the ambulance.
When paramedics arrived, they cut the cord and took the family to South West Acute Hospital, where midwives praised Tony's impromptu midwifery skills. The family were doing so well that by 1pm the same day, they were home with their new arrival, who weighed 8lbs and had the name Jessie already chosen.
Tony couldn't resist joking about his emergency role: 'All I need is a pack of those blue gloves from the hospital and I'd do it again. I'm just glad it wasn't the Lexus.'
