Travelodge receptionist hailed a hero for saving life of newborn
A receptionist at a Travelodge hotel has been hailed a hero after saving the life of a baby boy she helped deliver in a hotel car park.
Karen Dyass, who works at the Doncaster M18 Travelodge, has been praised by the Mum, Heather McSharry, whose waters broke outside the hotel as the family stopped for a toilet break en route to hospital.
Karen and Heather’s husband Matthew teamed up to deliver the baby as paramedics talked them through the delivery on speakerphone.
But as the new-born emerged, Karen spotted he wasn’t breathing or crying.
Guided by the paramedics, Karen popped her fingers into Michael’s throat and cleared his airways to enable him to take in air.
She then used Matthew’s shoelaces to tie the snapped umbilical cord back together to keep mum and baby ‘connected’.
Karen, a 46-year-old mother of two, said: "I was just coming to the end of my shift and was totally taken aback when a man ran into the hotel asking for help, he said there was a pregnant woman outside who was in labour.
"Being a mum of two children, I know what a scary situation this is, so I immediately told a colleague to take over the reception desk and I grabbed a stack of fresh towels and ran outside.
"Heather was very scared and totally stressed out when I arrived at the scene but a few breathing exercises and lots of calm soothing words later – Heather was a little relaxed and in full labour.
"I was so scared too as I had never delivered a baby and didn’t really know what to do but I just stepped up and made keeping Heather comfortable a priority and remembered my situation and supported with lots of encouragement and held her hand.
"It’s an amazing and remarkable feeling delivering a baby and very scary when he was not initially crying.
"My instinct just kicked in and I knew I had to do whatever it takes to save this baby. I was so relieved when he started to cry."
The baby boy was named after a passer-by, Michael Falconer, who ran into the hotel to get help.
Mother Heather said: "I cannot thank Karen and Michael enough for what they did for me and my family.
"Karen helped me deliver our baby and for that I will be eternally grateful. We were so lucky that there was a Travelodge hotel nearby – and that they employ staff like Karen.
"Karen just stepped in and took control of a very difficult and scary situation. I cannot begin to imagine what would have happened if Karen was not there."
Travelodge spokeswoman Shakila Ahmed said: "We are very proud of how Karen stepped in to help Heather and Matthew.
"Our hotel teams across our 552 hotels do an amazing job every day and sometimes they do encounter unforeseen difficult situations such as this. However we are constantly amazed on their bravery, compassion and determination to help people.
"A huge congratulations to the McSharry family, we are so happy to hear that Heather and baby ‘Travelodge Michael’ are doing well."
The budget chain has invited the family back for a complementary weekend stay at one its hotels for a ‘relaxing family break and a much needed good night’s sleep’.
Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
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