Baby delivered in empty pub in ‘surreal moment’ for operator
Baby girl Esmae was born at the Boar’s Head in St Helens, Merseyside, on Friday 3 April
General manager Alex O’Neill offered the pub as a safe space to couple Lee Nutton and Naomi Clarke, who had been afraid they would have to go through the situation in the car park outside.
Alex O'Neill is the general manager at the Hawthorn Leisure pub and said the event had been a positive moment amid the uncertainty of the coronavirus lockdown.
He explained: “We’re in lockdown so I was doing some maintenance work in the main bar with windows and curtains open because it was daytime.”
O’Neill was about to offer a free drink to a paramedic he saw outside to say thank you for his contribution during the coronavirus outbreak. But then he realised the paramedic was heading towards a young man who told the publican: “I’m about to have a baby in your car park.”
Bizarre situation
O'Neill collected blankets and towels while the paramedic helped Naomi into the pub.
He said: “Everyone clapped, everyone cried. It was the most surreal moment I have ever had in my life.
“It is the oldest pub in St Helens and it has seen some stories. If walls could tell stories, this would probably be one of the most bizarre.
“It’s something nice to come out of the lockdown.
“I just want to thank the NHS who were absolutely fantastic, they made everyone feel comfortable and were so calm and collected. They made the girl’s experience so beautiful.”
The operator had bleached and sanitised the pub two days earlier and O’Neill said there was never any doubt of hygiene or safety issues.
