Mum hunts for stranger who helped when she gave birth in a car park

When mum-to-be Lara Ashton started having cramps she rushed to hospital with her mum and partner.

But on the way there, the 28-year-old’s waters broke as her mum Karen drove round a roundabout and they pulled over into the car park of a Leybourne Lakes Country Park in Kent.

Just five minutes later, at 5:15 pm last Friday, baby Isabella was born, weighing 7lb 3oz, on the back seat with the help of Lara’s partner Scott, 26, and a mystery samaritan.

The woman had been in the park when she saw the commotion and came to help.

She helped keep everyone calm and spoke to emergency services but after they headed off to hospital, she left.

Now, they want to track her down to say thank you for looking after them.

Mum-of-three, Lara said: ‘Mum pulled into the car park, shot out of the car, took the car seat out and got a towel on the back seat.

‘I got in and my partner called the emergency services.’

Scott added: ‘I was on the phone to the ambulance service – I turned around and the baby’s head was coming.’

Speaking about the mystery stranger who helped, Lara, a nursery assistant of Snodland, Kent, added: ‘We believe she was a biology scientist, but some parts are a bit of a blur.

‘She was reassuring and calm, talking to me to keep my mind busy.

‘She spoke to the emergency services over the phone to explain what was happening and followed their instructions to check me and Isabella over.’

Isabella was born in just five minutes, and although Lara was expecting her third baby to be faster than previous labours, she never thought it would happen so fast and outside hospital.

Lara said: ‘With my eldest, the labour lasted seven hours and with my second child, around five hours.

‘It wasn’t the comfiest experience, and it also started to rain so we had to wrap her up warm with what we had. Isabella and I ended up in a bundle of towels and blankets.’

Karen, a 62-year-old former headteacher, was proud to have been able to deliver her daughter’s baby.

She added: ‘It’s not an experience every Grandma gets. She was amazing. I just went with the flow, as it was all I could do. I didn’t panic as I knew that wouldn’t help and Isabella had to come first.’

Lara said the birth was particularly special because her dad had visited the lakes just before passing away in 2016.

She added: ‘He liked walking and exploring there. I have ruined his old towel though, which happened to be with us too.’

When the ambulance crew arrived, they allowed Scott to cut the cord before they took the mother and baby to Maidstone Hospital, Kent, where staff were awaiting their arrival.

Lara said: ‘Maidstone birth centre, the ambulance crew and this mystery lady were all very helpful and we cannot be thankful enough for their help.’