Auckland cop helps deliver baby on motorway

A police officer helped a woman deliver her baby on the side of the Southern Motorway. File photo

An Auckland police officer became a makeshift midwife this week when he chanced upon a woman in labour on the Southern Motorway.

Waitemata Constable Errol Diprose was driving along the motorway last week when his patrol car was flagged down by a woman stopped on the side of the road.

Mr Diprose pulled over and realised the woman was in labour, and very close to giving birth.

He called for an ambulance, but according to Commissioner Mike Bush, while the pair waited for help to arrive "it became clear the baby was on the way".

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"Errol reassured the woman, advised her on her breathing and helped her bring her new child into the world. He then held the baby safely till the ambulance arrived," the Commissioner said in his regular blog.

"This was a highly stressful incident that posed a very real risk of harm to mother and child. Errol's ability to step up and take control is a great example of the skill and professionalism of our staff under pressure."

Mr Bush congratulated the new mum and Mr Diprose.

"One of the great things about a career in policing is the huge variety of tasks we're called upon to perform - often completely out of the blue," he said.

"And one of the great things about our staff is their ability to rise to any occasion, no matter how unexpected."