NYPD Officers Help Deliver Easter Baby In Upper Manhattan
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Call it an Easter surprise or an April Fool's Day story they'll never forget.
Two NYPD officers helped a woman in labor deliver her baby on the side of the road on the Upper East Side on Sunday morning.
CBS2's Ali Bauman spoke to the parents at the hospital in Murray Hill. They said their baby girl, Claire, is healthy, but her mother added she was sure eager to come into the world.
The father told Bauman he is grateful for the two officers and for the 911 dispatcher who helped keep him calm until help arrived. When CBS2 talked to the officers they hadn't told their own families yet, and weren't sure they'd even believe the story that happened on a day historically reserved for tall tales.
NYPD Officer Stephen Koustoubardis cradles the newborn baby, minutes after receiving the 911 call of a woman in labor by 92nd Street and York Avenue.
"At that time we were flagged down by the husband that was already with her at the driver's side of the vehicle and pretty much delivering the baby in labor at that moment and I stepped in and assisted the husband," Officer Koustoubardis said.
It was around 8 a.m. and parents were on their way to the hospital 60 blocks away.
"We don't normally handle these situations and it feels great directly bringing life into this world," Officer Vincent Chiang said.
Chiang has only been on the force eight months and his partner eight years, but neither had ever been in a situation like this.
"Training kicks in and you focus on doing what you gotta do," Koustoubardis said.
"It brings excitement to the job, so I'm looking forward to to other things," Chiang said.
The parents said the whole delivery only lasted about five minutes, but it wasn't until baby Claire was safe in the hospital that everyone could take a sigh of relief.
"It feels fantastic, a natural high feeling of being happy in life," Koustoubardis said.
