Firefighters often meet people on the worst days of their lives. But every now and then, they get to be part of one of the very best… the moment a family grows by one!
Cape Town, South Africa (16 March 2026) – When firefighters deliver miracles…
A heavily pregnant Zoë Marias rushed to the Strand Fire Station on a Monday. She was in the grips of birth pangs, and there was no time to make it to a hospital.
“On 9 March, a pregnant woman named Zoë Marias arrived at the Strand fire station with severe labour pains,” shares WAAR Brandit INNI KAAP.
Firefighter Emmanuel Ramjoo and his crew quickly assessed the situation and realised there was no time to get to the hospital – the baby was already well on her way. They then discovered what made calm heads and steady hands even more critical. The umbilical cord was wound around the baby’s neck.
In South Africa, firefighters are trained in basic medical emergency care, which includes delivering babies. Ramjoo and his team knew what to do.
“They carefully removed the cord, delivered the baby quickly, and stimulated her until her colour improved.”
With care, the team gently freed the cord, guided little Cleo safely into the world, and worked to stimulate her until her colour improved and her lungs filled with air. Then came the sound every parent longs to hear.
“The newborn girl, Cleo, weighing 2.99 kg, cried healthily and began feeding.”
Mom and daughter were later transported to the Macassar Community Day Care Centre for further medical care before heading home together.
Related Stories
SOS Africa Holiday Workshops Inspire Young Minds to Learn, Trust and Rise Together
Pave the Way: The Community Initiative Turning Overgrown Pavements into Paid JobsA grateful Zoë Marias extended her heartfelt thanks to Firefighter Ramjoo and his crew, and to Dawid Cloete, the kind soul who brought her to the station when she needed help most.
Cape Town’s fire and rescue teams are so much more than the emergencies we most often associate them with. They are trained, compassionate heroes who put others first.
This isn’t the first story we’ve shared about firefighters dropping their hoses and helmets to deliver babies. Over the years, crews across the city have stepped in during unexpected labour emergencies. They’ve assisted in home births, with little ones who arrived sooner than expected, and have even delivered Christmas miracles in threes!
by 
