School teacher and secretary deliver baby in busy shopping centre

The Citizen

17-05-2025

Vryheid primary school teacher, Carmen Purchase, and school secretary, Lou-ri Pretorius, were browsing at the back of the PEP store at Vryheid Plaza on Friday afternoon, May 9, when they heard a piercing scream.
The two women, who are friends and colleagues at Nuwe Republiek School, instinctively dove behind a shelf as the same thought crossed their minds …Robbery!
Their plan was to move as quietly as possible toward the closest exit, and hopefully, if luck was on their side, they would make it out unscathed.
They had gone to the Plaza that afternoon to return a bathrobe. However, the fact that the children were home presented a rare opportunity to walk around the Plaza and check out what winter stock had come in. It was Carmen who led Lou-ri to PEP to check out the Bluey tracksuits. After all, both their children love Bluey. (Bluey is an animated preschool television series about a curious and energetic puppy.)
As Carmen and Lou-ri prepared their escape, it was hard to believe that a moment ago they were having a look at the cute 'Bluey' tracksuits and casually chatting about the importance of an appropriate dress code at church.
Then they heard a second shout, this one a distinct call for, 'Help!'
Carmen and Lou-ri decided to make their way toward the shoe shelves instead. That seemed to be where the cry for help was coming from.
Lou-ri immediately realised that the woman they heard screaming was about to give birth. 'Carmen was a bit shocked at first,' said Lou-ri. 'But I shook her back to reality.'
As luck would have it, both women had completed advanced first aid training with KwaZulu Private Ambulance (KZPA) exactly nine months prior, and part of the course dealt with how to deliver a baby in an emergency situation. It was as if they were meant to be there by some grand design, to ensure the safe delivery of this precious child.
Carmen instructed the PEP staff to bring towels, while Lou-ri got on the phone with Frikkie Bekker at KZPA. 'Rule number one is always phone Frikkie,' Lou-ri laughed later.
Carmen's thoughts were racing a million miles a minute. 'Frikkie has taught you well enough …Awesome, you can do this,' she told herself…
'Remember gloves. Gloves! Where are the gloves?'
'Great, wow, we're doing great.'
'Is this some kind of movie?'
Lou-ri stayed focused on the steps you're supposed to follow when confronted with an emergency situation like this, remembering that it's important to ensure the area is clear of any obstacles that might pose any danger. She politely asked the onlookers to move away before turning her attention to the mother, encouraging her to breathe deeply and keep calm.
The towels hadn't even arrived yet, when the mother delivered and Carmen had to reach out and grab the baby before he could fall to the ground.
'When I realised what was happening, adrenaline shot through me and we had a good laugh later. I was so proud of myself, my friend and all the others that helped and started clapping hands,' said Carmen.
When the towels eventually arrived, Lou-ri handed them to Carmen and instructed her to keep rubbing the baby's back and ensure that he is breathing.
'Carmen confirmed the baby was okay, he was breathing and seemed to be doing well. I then tried to comfort the mother as she had seemed to be shocked. We reassured the mother that the baby was doing okay, asked her when the due date was, and if she had any knowledge of the gender,' said Lou-ri. 'We showed her the newly born baby boy.'
'The staff of PEP was so helpful, they closed the mother off for privacy and redirected any unnecessary spectators,' Lou-ri added.
Asked later how the delivery went, Lou-ri responded, 'Like making instant pudding, just add a baby. It went so quickly. Within minutes it was all over.'
A media alert issued by KZPA that afternoon indicated that an ambulance was dispatched to PEP Stores in the Vryheid Plaza shopping complex at about 3.30pm in response to a woman in labour.
'Upon arrival, paramedics discovered that the mother had already delivered a healthy baby boy, who arrived one week earlier than expected,' confirmed KZPA spokesperson, Craig Botha.
'The successful delivery was assisted by two advanced first aid responders, who had completed their training with our training division nine months prior. Mum and baby were transported to a nearby hospital for further care and treatment.'
The Northern Natal News has since heard that both the mother and the baby are doing well.
'I did not think that I will ever be part of the birthing experience, apart from giving birth to my own children. So, to be part of this miracle and to witness it first hand was just wow, amazing, awesome. It still feels surreal at times,' concluded Lou-ri.
Carmen added, 'We were in the right place at the right time. The most significant thing about life is delivering your own baby, but helping another mother deliver her baby is amazing and an incredible opportunity.'
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