TWO Crediton firefighters who helped with the delivery of a baby boy during a co-responder call-out met up again with the mother, baby and rest of the family at Crediton Fire Station this week.

It was at 11.28pm on Thursday, October 3 that Crediton Co-Responder medically emergency trained Firefighters Mark Bolt and Rory Fleming were called to assist at the Willow Walk, Crediton home of Layla and Allan Broome, where Layla was in the late stages of giving birth and Allan was on the telephone to the emergency services.

Upon arrival, Mark and Rory helped Layla give birth to 8lb 1oz Thomas just before the arrival of an ambulance crew.

Mark explained: “On arrival Thomas was well on his way and was born at 11.40pm.

“I had him in my arms when the ambulance crew arrived with a birthing pack and took over assisting Layla and Thomas.”

Rory explained: “It was the first time we had both assisted in the delivery of a baby but my duties were setting up the oxygen and making sure everything was ok.”

Layla and Allan, with their other children Eve (8) and Harry (6), went along to Crediton Fire Station on Tuesday, October 15, to thank Rory and Mark for their help with the birth of Thomas.

Layla wrote in a card: “Dear Mark and Rory, Thank you so much for the support and care during the unplanned delivery of Thomas!

“When you arrived we felt a big reassurance as it was pretty scary up until then.

“Thank you so much once again. Love from Layla, Allan, Eve, Harry and Thomas xxxx”.

Mark will have been a firefighter at Crediton for 10 years in the New Year and he has been a co-responder for eight years.

Rory has been a firefighter since 2013 and a co-responder since 2014.

Firefighter Neil Hargreaves, Crediton Station Watch Manager, said: “Congratulations to the family on the new arrival and well done to Mark and Rory.

“It has been lovely to meet the family and their new arrival Thomas.”

Layla added that she was proud that her father, Alan Sweetland, was a former long-serving Crediton firefighter and found a photograph of him on the wall of the fire station during her visit.