A TEIFI Valley farrier has been hailed a hero having delivered his baby daughter at home.

Chris Harris and his wife Angharad had only moved into their new house three days before the arrival of their second daughter Leah, and with advice from the Welsh Ambulance Service over the phone, Chris managed to take on the role of midwife.

“I was panicking like mad and shell-shocked,” said Chris. “I’m not good with blood and I’m a bit of a wimp when it comes to things like that, and that’s all that kept going through my mind was what if something goes wrong – this is my wife and child.”

Angharad, a teaching assistant at Ysgol Bro Sion Cwilt in Synod Inn, felt a little uncomfortable during the day, but nothing to warrant going to the hospital.

Her parents and parents in law were decorating at the property for most of the day and when all had gone, things took a turn.

At 11.30pm that night, Angharad decided maybe a hospital visit would be necessary but little Leah decided to make a quick appearance before any ambulance or midwife could arrive.

“Chris was really good. He had so much to think about. The Welsh Ambulance Service advised him what to do over the phone and on my second contraction, Leah arrived weighing seven pounds, two ounces on my cream coloured sofa just as the ambulance crew came to the house. It all took just 10 minutes!” said Angharad, who thinks her husband is an absolute hero.

Both parents wish to thank the Welsh Ambulance Service for its valued support and step-by-step advice as well as the aftercare received from the ambulance crew after they arrived.

Emergency medical dispatcher Nicola De-Gare Pitt, who answered the call, said she was really pleased to hear how Leah was getting on.

Nicola, who has worked at the Welsh Ambulance Service’s clinical contact centre in Cwmbran for four-and-a-half years, said: “This was my 10th baby delivery - there’s been eight girls and two boys and they all seem to happen at night.

“I remember Chris was understandably anxious at first and said he’d just moved house. He said Angharad didn’t want the baby at home but I told them sometimes babies come whenever they want to.

“He calmed down and listened to the instructions and was fully focused on making sure that Angharad and the baby were okay. He went to open the door for the crew and the baby was there - it all happened so quickly.

“Sometimes we take some difficult calls but when you have a baby delivery it outweighs everything.”