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Arriving in 10 minutes the first baby boy is born on Tube
Dick Murray28 May 2009
UNTIL yesterday, only two babies had ever been born on the Tube, despite the fact it carries more than a billion passengers a year. Now meet number three - the first boy.
Michelle Jenkins, 32, was travelling on the Jubilee line yesterday lunchtime when she felt the unmistakable signs that her baby was arriving early.
She managed to get off the train at London Bridge station and asked staff at the ticket barrier for help.
She was taken to a nearby staff rest room while urgent appeals were broadcast over the station's public-address system for doctors to assist.
Luckily, immediate help was provided by Dorothy Ogundipe, the Tube's customer services assistant at London Bridge, who had some know-how having assisted her sisters and cousins when they gave birth.
Meanwhile, three doctors - thought to be from nearby Guy's and St Thomas' Hospital, who had responded to the calls for assistance - were heading through the station towards the rest room.
Jenkins junior, however, decided not to wait any longer and arrived in the staff room, beating the doctors by a few minutes.
The first baby to be born on the network was in 1924 when Maria Cordery made her debut on a Bakerloo line train at Elephant & Castle station.
It was another 83 years before a second one came along.
Last December Julia Kowalska, from Poland, gave birth to a girl named Jennifer in the supervisor's office at Kingsbury station, also on the Jubilee line. A spokeswoman for Transport for London, said today: "A baby boy was born in the staff room at London Bridge Tube station just after 2pm.
"Staff called an ambulance at 1.48pm for a passenger who was experiencing the initial signs of labour. They made sure she was comfortable while the ambulance came - but by then the baby had arrived.
"Three doctors also came to help after responding to the public address plea."
Mother and baby were then taken by ambulance to the Royal London Hospital in Whitechapel.
Ms Jenkins and her "healthy new born" were today said to be doing well. The parents have not yet decided on a name.
Reader views (8)
i know this lovely lady and saw the baby today...they are both doing realy well and wish the family all the best...xxxx
- Tracey, essex uk, 13/08/2009 22:26
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Two years ago on 01 June my waters broke whilst travelling from Oxford Street to Canada Water on the Jubilee Line. It wasn't terribly obvious and I managed to walk home from the station and then get in touch with St Thomas'. My daughter was born the next morning. She was so close to becoming a tube baby 
- Mary-Lou, London, 28/05/2009 16:23
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I was told a long time ago that any baby born on the London Underground was given free travel for life. I dont know it this was true or an urban myth. Whilst ownership of the tube has changed, it would be nice if this was still true. Any chance of someone official confirming this?
- Charles, London, 28/05/2009 14:06
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What a great story. Congratulations one and all. Of course it's typical that you wait 83 years for another tube birth to happen and then two come along at once. By the way, what happened to the woman who went into labour at St Pauls station the other week? Did she not count?
- Jonathan, London, UK, 28/05/2009 13:43
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That's horrible, Steve and not even remotely funny. I think it shows a more human side of the tube seeing though people rushed to help the mother seeing though usually everyone's so busy just trying to get to where they need to without a thought for anyone else.
- Alexandra, London, 28/05/2009 11:45
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Well that's one good thing 'Labour' has done in the capital!
- Dc, London, 28/05/2009 11:44
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What surprised me was that she was taken to the London Hospital whereas Guys, with it's specialised pre and post maternity wards, is right next door.
- Mark, South-East London, 28/05/2009 11:42
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I'm surprised it wasn't crushed to death.
- Steve, London, 28/05/2009 11:00
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