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WHEN Abigail Araujo went into labour she feared she would end up giving birth in the street.

But thanks to Good Samaritan Kath Walker everything turned out well and she arrived at Wallingford Community Hospital's maternity unit with minutes to spare.

Mrs Araujo said: "I was on my way to pick up my daughter, Talitha, from the nursery when I suddenly went into labour.

"Everything was so quick I thought I'd have to give birth in the street.

"But then Mrs Walker asked if I was all right, when she saw me in some distress.

"She immediately went to get her car, bundled me into it and we picked up my little girl.

"But when I got home she wouldn't leave me, as the baby was well advanced. She then rushed me into the community hospital.

"Baby Caitlin was born within minutes.

"The staff were wonderful. It brought home to me just how important it is to have the hospital here."

Caitlin was born in the St George's unit, a four-bed maternity unit. Mrs Walker, landlady of the Red Lion, Cholsey, said: "It was pure luck I found Mrs Araujo. I could see she was in some distress and I couldn't leave her like that.

"I used to be a nurse, so I didn't panic. It was lucky I was in the right place at the right time.

"The whole thing took only 40 minutes from start to finish."

Mrs Walker never saw the baby because she just went on and did her shopping.

So, as South African Mrs Araujo wanted to thank Mrs Walker, she arranged to take baby Caitlin to meet Mrs Araujo at her home in Walter Bigg Way.

Mrs Walker said: "She's a lovely baby. The name Caitlin is Gaelic for Kathleen, my own name. I know it's a coincidence but it's a lovely one."

At Wallingford Hospital, baby unit manager Rosie Wright said: "We were only too delighted to help.

"There is always fully-trained staff at the unit. Mrs Araujo was in safe hands.

"We did the delivery here rather than taking her by ambulance to the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford because the birth was imminent."

8:33am Monday 12th May 2008

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