It started like any other commute… gospel songs, coffee cups and early morning quiet. But just before 7am, a young woman went into labour on a moving train. And four women became unexpected midwives in one of the most beautiful moments you could imagine.
Western Cape, South Africa (24 April 2025) – The morning commute is usually filled with half-asleep passengers, headphones in, eyes on the day ahead. But yesterday, on this particular train heading to Claremont Station, something unforgettable happened… something raw, real and incredibly beautiful.
Just before 7am, a young woman’s water broke while on the train. Most passengers instinctively stepped away, unsure of what to do. But four incredible women – Roxanne Koorts, Christine Marthinus, Samantha Hendricks, and Johanna Keever – did the opposite.
They moved closer.
“Just before everything changed, we were doing what we do every morning, we were singing gospel together,” the ladies explained in an interview.
At first, they were shocked when they realised the passenger was going into labour but they knew they had to help. Without any hesitation, the four of them jumped into action.
“I had mixed emotions but I got up and went closer,” Roxanne shared, still visibly emotional.
The group, who all work together in a cleaning department, are no strangers to working as a team. But nothing could have prepared them for what came next. None of them had ever assisted in a birth before. They weren’t doctors or nurses and yet in that moment, instinct, heart and courage kicked in. Without hesitation, they sprang into action. They cleared space in the carriage, creating a calm zone in the middle of morning madness. Between comforting words, whispered prayers, and deep breaths, they helped the mother through each contraction… holding her hand, steadying her shoulders and reminding her she wasn’t alone.
They didn’t panic. They didn’t back away. They simply showed up in the most human way possible.
Johanna, who didn’t believe she was capable of helping someone give birth, says she put her trust in the Lord. With steady hands and a calm presence, she literally caught the newborn as she entered the world, right there between stations, in the middle of rush-hour chaos.
Christine says the moment the baby arrived was unexplainable, “We were shouting. It was a joyful moment to see a life come into this world in front of our eyes.”
The passengers, once unsure and silent, erupted into applause. In a moment that felt straight out of a movie, the quiet tension transformed into celebration. There were cheers, tears and a shared sense of awe at what had just unfolded.
The four women, still holding the mother and her newborn in a protective circle, asked another kind stranger to phone emergency services. An ambulance was arranged to meet them at Claremont Station.
The mother and her baby girl were taken to the hospital, both safe and healthy, thanks to the quick thinking, steady hands and fearless hearts of four everyday women who chose kindness over comfort. Who didn’t look away. Who said yes to the moment.
The ladies say the experience will stay with them forever.
“When that little one was in her hands and started crying, it was so beautiful to see,” Samantha shared, her voice soft and eyes glistening.
It’s the kind of story that makes you pause. A reminder that compassion is still alive. That there are strangers willing to go the extra mile… or in this case, the extra station stop for someone in need.
To these four women, we just want to say thank you. You reminded us what being human is really about.
And to the little girl born on a train… you arrived with a whole carriage full of love.
by 