A family's flooding nightmare ended in happiness – with a bouncing baby boy born on the bathroom floor.
Neighbours in Park Road, Elland, saw their homes engulfed by the Boxing Day floods.
If that shock wasn’t enough, first time mum-to-be Jess Dann, 20, went into labour two weeks early.
Jess’s waters broke at 5.30am on Saturday and partner Brett Durkin, 25, rushed her to Calderdale Royal Hospital. She was sent home three hours later as the contractions eased.
But just after 2pm little Archie decided he was ready to enter the world and it was panic stations all round.
Jess kept cool but Brett, mum Sheridan, 48, and dad Jerrad, 46, were all at sea and called in neighbour Amanda Beeden, who took charge.
Amanda took instructions over the phone from the ambulance service but paramedics arrived just in time to deliver 5lb 7oz Archie Oscar.
Mum and baby are doing fine and proud gran Sheridan said: “It was the perfect end to a difficult week.
“We are used to being flooded but this was the worst we have known it.
“Jess wasn’t due until January 17 but after her waters broke there was no stopping him. We were all panicking and the blokes were flapping but Jess was probably the coolest person there.
“We called in Amanda from next door and she was brilliant. It all happened within 45 minutes. The crown was visible just as the paramedics arrived so they took over.”
VIDEO: Boxing Day floods in Elland
(Video by Lee Shaw)
Jess and Archie were taken to hospital for checks and later allowed home.
Brett said: “It was crazy. I just froze but Amanda came round and was great. If she hadn’t been there I don’t know what we’d have done.”
Telesales worker Amanda, 48, was knee-deep in mud in her flooded cellar and emerged to be told that Jess was about to give birth. She cleaned herself up and took control.
“I’ve never delivered a baby before so you could say I was thrown in at the deep end,” said mum-of-two Amanda.
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“I just had to keep Jess calm. She was saying it hurts and I was saying that’s perfectly normal.
“It’s a shame Archie had to come into the world when we’re still clearing up but some things you just can’t stop.”
The Dann family have lost their kitchen, downstairs carpets and some furniture as floodwater reached above the skirting boards.
