A YOUNG mum gave birth alone on her bathroom floor as she waited for the ambulance to arrive.

Linzi Deighton went into labour at her home while her partner Colin Curwen was in Rome for the Champions League final.

With no one around to drive her to hospital and her two-year-old son Joeshe called 999 and called for an ambulance.

Ambulance call taker Andrew Thompson tried to keep Linzi calm and talked her through the birth, as she lay on the bathroom floor clutching her mobile phone.

Within minutes baby Maisie was born, but to Linzi's horror she wasn't breathing. As she screamed for help, Andrew calmly advised her to rub the baby with a towel which prompted her to gulp for air and start crying.

When the ambulance arrived a few seconds later Linzi, 31, answered the door... with new baby Maisie in one hand and Joe in the other!

Linzi said: "When I heard a banging at the front door, I picked her up and held Joe's hand and answered the door to the paramedics.

"When one of them saw me standing there his jaw nearly hit the floor.

Multi-tasking

"I can't believe I did it, but I suppose when you're a mother with a young child you get used to multi-tasking."

Beautician Linzi recalled how she had given Colin the go-ahead to go on the planned trip to see United in Rome for the Champions League final two weeks ago because she thought the birth would be similar to when she had Joe, who was 10 days late and followed a four day labour.

But Maisie had other ideas.

Said Linzi: "I was in pain and probably screaming and shouting at the operator throughout. He stayed really calm and told me what to do. He was really good.

"Maisie was born minutes after I made the call and she wasn't breathing at first. The operator told me to get a towel and rub her, which I did and she started crying.

Mr Thompson, 41, who has worked at the Belle Vue emergency call centre for 15 months has now been to meet Linzi and Maisie, who weighed in at a healthy 8lb 4oz.

When I heard a banging at the front door, I picked her up and held Joe's hand and answered the door to the paramedics

Linzi Deighton

He said: "It was a little bit more frantic than the average call. It was obvious she was well into labour and birth was imminent.

"It is sometimes difficult to keep calm but if the patient hears panic in your voice they will panic. I knew I just had to remain professional and keep focused on the job in hand.

"I get a great deal of satisfaction from being able to meet up with them and see mum and baby doing well. I've dealt with a few pregnant women going into labour while on the phone - but it's a call I will remember."

Colin, a store manager, said: "I was only going to be away for 18 hours and was shocked when Maisie was born.

"I've had stick from the ladies in work who've said they cannot believe I still went away.

"I feel bad that I wasn't there but I can't thank Andrew enough."

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