Premature Baby Noah Born in Car Stranded by Floodwaters En Route to Hospital

A couple from Newent, Beccy Whittal and Luke Browning, are celebrating the birth of their premature son, Noah, who arrived unexpectedly in their car after it became stranded in floodwaters. The birth occurred on Sunday while they were traveling to Gloucestershire Royal Hospital. The couple had already taken a detour to avoid flooding caused by Storm Bert but encountered difficulties outside Malvern Tyres in Gloucester. Beccy Whittal, a first-time mother, reflected on the experience, stating, “We’ve had fun along the journey and we realise how lucky we are because it could have gone really badly.” She was 33 weeks pregnant when she began experiencing cramps on Sunday morning. Initially dismissing the discomfort, her pain became “progressively worse.” Upon Luke’s return home from work with painkillers, Beccy’s pain was “quite bad,” prompting their decision to head to the hospital. “I was hoping to hold out until the hospital,” Beccy recounted. “I tried to stay calm because I thought I can’t stop it. “I just had it in my head that he’s coming… what else could I have done?” Luke contacted 999 for an ambulance, though he recognized that it was unlikely to reach them promptly. While awaiting paramedics, a call handler provided guidance and reassurance to the couple during the birth. Luke described the event as “pretty terrifying,” adding, “He came out really fast.” He further commented, “I felt nervous, worried… it was a pretty full-on experience.” Noah was born at 15:50 GMT. After reaching the hospital, Beccy was immediately taken for surgery due to blood clots, while Noah was admitted to intensive care. Dr. Heather White, a paediatric consultant, assessed the baby’s condition as “pretty good condition” given the circumstances of his birth. She remarked, “For a pre-term baby to be born outside of the hospital is incredibly stressful for parents and they did a fantastic job… in such a difficult situation.” Dr. White concluded by saying, “Well done to everybody involved.” Noah, who initially required intensive care for breathing support, has since been moved to the special care nursery. There, medical staff will focus on assisting him with feeding and growth before he can return home with his family. Beccy is also making a good recovery following her labour and surgery.