A PARAMEDIC had expected he may have to deliver a baby in an emergency but had absolutely no idea it would be his own daughter.

Martin Benjamin and his wife Fiona from Ross-on-Wye thought they had another two weeks to wait before the arrival of their second child.

But baby Lucy had other ideas and Mrs Benjamin, aged 38, went into labour on Tuesday, May 1, while her husband was watching a football match.

Mr Benjamin, aged 37 - known to everyone as Benji - phoned the delivery suite at Hereford County Hospital to let them know what was happening but after more contractions he phoned for an ambulance.

He said: "We expected we may have a quick delivery based on our the experience with our first child Toby who was born two years ago, but not as quickly as this.

"It was so quick I didn't have time to think and just went into automatic pilot. Although I have been a paramedic for 12 years, I have never actually delivered anyone's baby, although I have come very close once or twice.

"I did remember to check to make sure the cord wasn't around the baby's neck, as had been our experience with Toby, but all was well, and 6lb 11oz Lucy arrived within a couple of minutes."

Ambulance paramedics Kate Baldwin and Mark Jones from Hereford, and Adrian Gilbert and Richard Wheeler from Bromyard, arrived to help and Lucy was born at 11.50pm at home.

Fortunately, following a visit from the community midwife, the family was able to remain at home.

Mrs Benjamin said: "It was a little bit frightening at the time, as things were happening so quickly. But now Lucy's here, it is lovely to be able to say she was delivered by her dad."