NATIONAL NEWS - A Pretoria learner and her boyfriend recently told Rekord of how they had to help a deliver a baby shortly after the lockdown started.
“A mother asked for assistance on an emergency WhatsApp group,” said Dominique Matthee (17) of Hoërskool Oos-Moot.
Matthee is part of an observer programme by Best Care ambulance service, where she underwent several first aid courses.
“The ambulance took a while to get to her because of a backlog, so we decided to go out and give assistance,” Matthee explained.
When Matthee, and her boyfriend, Hennie Brits, arrived at the woman’s home, Matthee asked how far apart the woman’s contractions were.
“She said she was ready to push,” she said.
“So we started to prepare the bed for her and the baby was delivered.”
Matthee said she was happy that they could assist with delivering the baby safely.
“We just got a small scare when the baby was quiet,” she said.
She said the reason for their concern was that the baby was born at 35 weeks.
“Fortunately, the baby started crying shortly after,” she said.
“We felt very relieved that it was healthy and okay.”
Xander Loubser, of Best Care ambulance services, said Matthee was part of an observer programme in which learners and teenagers were given the chance to spend some time in their career of choice.
“They are then sent for several core courses and do tag-along sessions in the emergency vehicles,” he said.
“The idea is that they see if it is really what they want to do one day.”
Loubser said Matthee and her boyfriend, who is also a paramedic, went out to assist and also, fortunately lived nearby.
Hoërskool Oos-Moot also took to social media to brag about Matthee.
In the post on Monday the school also announced that Matthee would be featured on RSG radio station.
“She is an Oosie with a heart of gold,” the post read.
