"We’ve got a pandemic baby and a flood baby": Mum’s twin miracles
A woman trapped by flood waters was rescued by a heroic neighbour in his kayak just in time for her to give birth.
Krystle Henry was stranded in her home in Taringa, Brisbane, after flood waters surged up the driveway - preventing her from leaving to go to the hospital.
But her quick-thinking neighbour Rob came to the rescue, kayaking Ms Henry to dry land on Sunday afternoon.
She and her partner Matt Bridges welcomed their newborn son, Angus, into the world at Mater Mothers’ Hospital Brisbane on Tuesday morning.
Mr Bridges said he would be forever grateful to his neighbour for helping their son arrive safely.
“We didn’t know Bob, but he was more than happy to help us out and I’m so thankful Angus arrived safely,” he said.
Krystle Henry and Matt Bridges with their newborn son, Angus. Image: Krystle Henry
“I’m so glad I got to the delivery room in time.
Angus is the couple’s second child, after Ms Henry gave birth to their daughter Olive in 2020.
“We’ve got a pandemic baby… and now we have a flood baby,” Mr Bridges said.
Mater obstetrician Dr Paul Conaghen said he had never delivered a baby in such a chaotic situation, and praised the couple for their calm attitude.
“Considering the situation, Krystle and Matt remained very calm,” he said.
“I couldn’t imagine being 39 weeks pregnant stuck in flood waters.”
But Angus isn’t the only flood baby to be born in such circumstances, after another couple were rescued by kayak, this time by the SES.
Felicity and Alex were rescued by SES volunteers before going on to welcome their newborn son into the world. Image: Felicity Jacques
Sherwood couple Felicity and Alex Jacques called the SES for help when their cars flooded in the underground carpark of Alex’s parents home, where they were staying.
The couple stayed in a hotel near the hospital overnight, before Ms Jacques went into labour early on Monday morning.
Their baby son, Andrew Jacques, was also born on Tuesday, weighing 3.35 kg.
“I hate to think what would have happened if we weren’t close to the hospital,” Ms Jacques said.
“I’m so relieved our little one is here. He is definitely a little miracle.”
Paula Foley, the chief operating officer at Mater Mothers’ Hospital, said the past week had seen many mums and families going to extraordinary lengths to get to the hospital to give birth.
“It’s been an incredibly stressful time for many of our new mums and dads,” she said.
“But we’ve had 188 babies born at Mater Mothers’ South Brisbane in the past week, despite the flooding.”
Image: Krystle Henry