Polly McCourt, 39 gave birth on a Manhattan, NYC sidewalk after failing to get to the hospital in time on account of someone jumping the line and nabbing her cab.
The British expatriate, had gone into labor around 4pm on Monday and was being helped to the corner by her doorman Anton Rudovic so as to hail a cab.
That unfortunately was wishful thinking. Upon approaching the corner on 68th and 3rd a woman jumped in front of her and stole her cab.
Told Polly McCourt: ‘He [the doorman] was trying desperately to hail a cab and a lady walked out five meters in front of him and hailed a cab and got into it.
‘And I went ”that’s my cab, I want that cab!”’
With the baby’s head already crowning, Polly McCourt gave up trying to get to nearby Lenox Hill Hospital and took to sitting down on the sidewalk.
With her doorman supporting her back and female bystanders holding the baby’s head, the newborn arrived in under five minutes. People rushed to give their scarves and coats to wrap the baby as the temperature was in the chilly mid-30s.
Polly McCourt’s husband, Cian McCourt, 40, who was stuck in traffic, told that he feared the worst when he came running up and saw his wife on the ground.
Told the partner of law firm, A&L Goodbody: ‘It was a complete shock. I came running up the street and I immediately knew it was my wife.
‘I saw the crowd and I feared the worst, that she had been knocked down or something – it was really emotional.’
‘Then I saw the baby already in her arms. She was covered in scarves, shirts and coats, the people who helped were great.’
The mother-of-three is recovering with her healthy 7lb baby girl Ila Isabelle and is due to leave hospital today.
Originally the McCourts had planned to call the baby Ila Polly but after being assisted by a mystery woman called Isabelle who gave up her coat, the couple have called the baby Ila Isabelle.
The couple are hopeful that the woman will eventually turn up….to further bestow their gratitude.
