A call for help after a young mother’s waters broke six weeks early amid rising floodwaters in Katherine has resulted in the safe delivery of a baby girl during the region’s worst flooding in almost three decades.
St John NT’s Emergency Communications Centre received a Triple Zero call at 8:17pm on Monday 9 March from 25-year-old woman, Anastasia, who was 34 weeks pregnant and in the early stages of labour.
Battling flooded roads, St John NT paramedics Emily Griffiths and Lachlan Mikic arrived at Anastasia and partner Casius’ house and realised the situation was progressing rapidly.
“There was no way for more resources to get to us, and Anastasia was getting very close to giving birth,” said Emily.
The pair quickly loaded Anastasia, Casius, and their two-year-old child into the Troop Carrier ambulance and made their way through floodwaters to the temporary Emergency Department (ED) set up at the Katherine Ambulance Station.
“We were a kilometre out from the temp ED and it was all happening. I had a toddler screaming behind me and I couldn’t go any faster than second gear because the roads were flooded. I was calling through to the hospital staff at the station and then I heard Lachie yell, ‘She’s having the baby!’,” recounted Emily.
“I looked down and saw the baby was already crowning. Even though it wasn’t ideal, we had to be ready for the possibility of this baby being born in the back of the troopy,” Lachlan added.
With sirens on and lights flashing, the crew arrived at the station at 9:23pm where they were met by the ED team and prepared to birth the baby.
Just five minutes after arriving at the station, a baby girl – Venice – was born.
After stabilising Venice and checking over Anastasia, the pair were driven through floodwaters again to the airport and transported by CareFlight for further care at Royal Darwin Hospital.
“I feel very blessed and lucky that the outcomes were so positive, given the circumstances. Lachlan and I are so privileged to have been a part of it,” said Emily.
Lachlan now regards the experience as “one of the most amazing things I’ve ever been a part of”.
Dr Will Kitchen, ED Registrar at the temporary Emergency Department, praised the paramedics on behalf of the ED team: “Lachie and Emily were instrumental in the safe delivery of the six weeks premature baby”.
“Their efforts both prehospitally and in the department were major contributors to the excellent outcome for both mother and daughter. They appeared cool as a cucumber throughout, which is an impressive achievement in and of itself, given the rather dramatic circumstances!”
St John NT CEO Abigail Trewin commended the teamwork of all services: “The cooperation between St John NT ambulance staff and volunteers, NT Health staff, CareFlight, and Territory Police in Katherine during this disaster has been phenomenal. We’re working like one well-oiled machine to ensure the community continues to receive care during this challenging time.”
The birth highlights the extraordinary efforts of emergency responders and healthcare staff working around the clock as floodwaters continue to impact the Katherine region.
St John NT has had nine staff and three volunteers on shift at all times throughout the flood response. The temporary Emergency Department has provided care for over 100 patients.
Both Anastasia and Venice are now doing well and expecting to return to Katherine soon.
