Bundle of joy

A panicking postman made the most important delivery of his life when his wife gave birth on the bathroom floor.

Andrew Shanley, from Coventry North delivery office, was at work when wife Anna called him home, saying she was in labour.

‘She'd had contractions a few days earlier that had passed, so this time the hospital just told her to take paracetamol and have a bath,’ said Andrew.

But when it became clear the baby was coming fast, Andrew’s mother-in-law told him he would have to call an ambulance.

‘It all got a bit serious and I was running around – apparently I was so panicked I asked what number you call for an ambulance!’ he added.

Taking advice from the 999 operator, Andrew took on the role of emergency midwife.

‘I told the operator “I deliver letters, not babies!” It was unbelievable,’ he said. ‘She asked what I could see and I said it looked like an elbow. Then Anna pushed and Connie’s head came out.

‘I couldn’t tell if she was breathing because she had a membrane over her face – it looked like she was on her way to rob a bank! I got rid of that and she opened her eyes. Then Anna pushed again and Connie was in my arms.’

The paramedics, who arrived shortly afterwards, congratulated Andrew on a job well done.

‘I was there for the births of our first two children,’ he said. ‘They were scary enough and certainly didn’t prepare me for this.

‘It’s not something I ever want to do again, but it was brilliant and Connie is absolutely gorgeous.’

Andrew’s manager, Elaine Smith, hailed his ‘fantastic achievement’.

‘He never shows any signs of stress in his working life,’ she said. ‘He is a very calm and caring man who takes each day in his stride.’