Amanda Hammonds helps deliver baby in Aldi car park

Before doing her shopping in Aldi on Monday (23 March), Amanda Hammonds managed to help deliver a baby.

Amanda and her mum Ann arrived at Aldi in Rochdale at around 10:35am on Monday morning. As they made their way into the store, a man came running over to them asking for help because his wife was in labour.

Speaking about what happened, Amanda said: “She was in full labour. She was screaming and was having contractions. It was clear that the baby was coming.”

The lady's husband was on the phone to a paramedic at the time. Amanda then took over the phone call.

“We were told that we needed brand new towels to put the baby in because they had to be clean. My mum went into the shop to ask for some but the manager said they didn’t have any. I then told the manager that he had two options, with them being a supermarket, he must have something so he should go and get some or I would be going in and getting some,” said Amanda.

The manager then came out with two baby towels.

Continuing the phone call with the paramedic, Amanda was told that the baby would be arriving within five minutes.

Amanda added: “I said to him, can we not keep it in her until you come and he said no, if this baby is coming, it’s coming and you will be delivering it.”

Amanda then went on to safely deliver a baby girl.

“I am glad I helped because it was a fantastic thing to be a part of. She was born at 11:07 and all we could do after that was clean the baby, keep her warm and give her to mum,” added Amanda.

Thanks to the quick thinking of Amanda and her mum, the baby arrived safely.

Despite being on the phone to the paramedics at the time, it was still over an hour before an ambulance arrived.

Amanda said: “We got there at 10.35 and the husband was on the phone. The baby was then born at 11.07 and it wasn’t until at least 11.35 that an ambulance actually turned up. I can’t fault the paramedic because he was brilliant but it is ridiculous that they were waiting so long for an ambulance.”

Amanda now hopes that mother and baby are doing well.

She said: “I hope everything is ok. The mum was so appreciative for what we had done and the help I had given her. She couldn’t have been any more appreciative. I have given them my phone number and am just waiting to hear from them. It was definitely a situation that was amazing to be part of but not one that you want to happen again.”