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Something in the Water-loo?

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History has been made in Waterloo after two women went into labour on the railway in the space of one month.

Baby Reign Brandao was an early arrival at Waterloo station on October 16 while newborn Sophia Mercurelli started her journey aboard a South Western Railway train on November 10.

“The raspberry leaf tea that I had must have really worked!” said Evelyn Brandao, who was travelling into London Waterloo from Woking when she told a train guard she was about to give birth.

Evelyn Brandao with baby Reign, partner Hervon Charles and Justyna Syla station shift manager. Photo: Network Rail.
Evelyn Brandao with baby Reign, partner Hervon Charles and Justyna Syla station shift manager. Photo: Network Rail.

Staff phoned for an ambulance and met Ms Brandao at Platform 13 but Reign could not wait. He was born in the first aid room weighing 6lbs and 8oz and was later taken to St Thomas’ Hospital. He is believed to be the first baby born at Waterloo station in its 170 year history.

Meanwhile South Western Railway has been celebrating its first ever ‘train baby’ after mother-to-be Noemi Mercurelli went into labour on a train service between Waterloo and Farnham stations.

Train guard Martin Miller with Noemi Mercurelli and baby Sophia. Photo: South Western Railway.
Train guard Martin Miller with Noemi Mercurelli and baby Sophia. Photo: South Western Railway.

Thanks to the quick response of train guard Martin Miller, station staff and responders from St John’s Ambulance, Noemi was assisted off the train at Surbiton station and later gave birth to Sophia at the hospital.

Afterwards staff arranged to meet Noemi and Sophia to spoil them with some presents – including a baby-grow that reads: “My journey started on South Western Railway”.

Photo: South Western Railway.
Photo: South Western Railway.

Following news of the two babies’ arrivals in the Waterloo area, another couple had a special celebration of a different kind when they got engaged at – you guessed it – Waterloo station.

Marking 18 months since Lisle Hunte met his beloved Shalisha Cumberbatch at the station, he contacted station staff and arranged for a special message to be put on the big screen asking her to marry him. She said yes.

Network Rail station manager Jason Murphy said that it is not a request that they get often but they were delighted to help out.


Read more: New-look Bond Street station unveiled


 

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