What began as a routine medical aid call for a woman having contractions late today soon turned the Gloucester Fire Department's Rescue One vehicle into an impromptu delivery room.
It was 4:42 p.m. when Fire Department paramedics arrived at 144 Cherry St. And Phil Bouchie, who was captain on duty at the time, said seemed normal when they arrived.
Firefighters helped Amanda Knowles into the ambulance and started off for Beverly Hospital via Route 128. But on the way, Amanda Knowles started giving birth -- to twins.
"This was a routine run," said Bouchie, who also serves as the firefighters' union president. "Then at Exit 13, the first baby started to crown and they pulled over,"
But the time ambulance hit Exit 13, Knowles' son started his own push for arrival. Paramedics Linda Hayes and Jeff Poole pulled the ambulance off into the brake down lane and delivered him. Then Bouchie and Tom Savage arrived as backup from the West Gloucester fire station.
Bouchie said he hopped into the driver's seat and Savage helped deliver Knowles' daughter on the way to Beverly Hospital.
Bouchie said the Fire Department didn't find out the names of Knowles' children. But the newly expanded family, he said, is safe at Beverly Hospital and doing well.
Copyright 2012 - Gloucester Daily Times, Mass.
McClatchy-Tribune News Service
