Handy man!

Photo: Picture by VINCENT BROWN

SPECIAL delivery... Greg, his neighbour Donna and her baby Alana.

Joiner Greg knew the drill
JOINER Greg Shoel swapped woodwork for midwifery to help deliver his neighbour’s baby on New Year’s Eve.

Donna Burbridge, of Wood Street, High Crompton, had just got out of the bath when her waters broke and she got the urge to push. Her partner Kelvin Jordan was at the supermarket at the time.

Greg (47) popped in to see if Donna was OK and found her in the bathroom with baby Alana’s head popping out. A calm Greg helped Donna to her bed and delivered Alana before Kelvin and the midwife could get there.

Donna (24) said: “Greg was absolutely brilliant. I’m very proud of him. I was so glad that someone was there to help me through. It’s a good job I know Greg so well as I wouldn’t have liked a stranger to do what he did! I phoned Kelvin right away and he raced home as quick as he could but Alana was not for waiting.

“I had just been to hospital for a check up because I was two days over my due date but I wasn’t getting any of the labour pains I had with my son Kian (4) so I didn’t think she was coming that day.

“The whole labour process only lasted a few minutes.

“I was planning a home birth right from the start but I didn’t expect it to be that quick.”

Greg, who has been friends with the couple for years, said: “I was happy to help and even though I’ve got three children of my own, I’ve never done anything like that before.

“I went into autopilot and would do it again if I had to but I’ve told them if they have another baby I’m moving house!

“It’s certainly different to joinery and I enjoyed it but I’m not considering a change of career.

“I needed a stiff drink when I got home but it was certainly an interesting way to see in the New Year and after I’d calmed down I was quite proud of myself.”

Kelvin (34) added: “I’m hugely grateful to Greg and I definitely owe him one. You usually ask your neighbour for a cup of sugar or a teabag so for him to deliver my daughter is certainly going above and beyond his neighbourly duty.”