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Boynton Beach firefighters help deliver baby in a car

Posted at 12:47 PM, Oct 11, 2018
and last updated 2018-10-11 18:24:03-04

A Boynton Beach woman experienced a once in a lifetime delivery when her baby was born in a car. 

Melissa Benoit said she started feeling contractions last Tuesday. She said she knew her baby was on the way and went to go pick up her mother from her job at Galaxy Elementary School. 

While Benoit was waiting for her mother, she said she had to start pushing and ended up delivering her baby in her car while it was parked in the school’s parking lot. 

“I had to push, and then boom baby was there,” said Benoit. 

Her family and the school staff stepped in to help with the newborn. 

Boynton Beach firefighters Krystal Gomez, Ian Finlayson and Ryan Merz arrived to help Benoit and the baby. 

Gomez said they were able to help get the baby crying and cut his umbilical cord then race the two to the hospital. 

“Kind of let everybody know that he was OK and give them a sense of relief,” said Gomez. 

Finlayson said they rarely see a mom deliver before they can get them to the hospital. 

“In 14 years I have seen it twice so it is not that often,” he said. 

Metz has been a firefighter for a year and a half. He said this call reminds him of the good in their job. 

“Hopefully I’ll take with the rest of my career, so the days I am not having such a great day, I can think back on days like this,” he said. 

Benoit said without help from the firefighters she doesn’t know what would have happened. 

“I don’t know how to cut a cord, I don’t know this stuff,” she said. 

Caleb, who was 6 lbs. and 6 ozs. at birth, is healthy and will grow up with an amazing story to share.