Parents thank cop who got them to hospital in time

Constable Gary Abbott insists it was just another day at the office. Photo / Herald on Sunday

Proud parents Nina and John Blackburn have finally learned the identity of the policeman who saved them from a childbirth on Auckland's Northern Motorway.

Long-serving traffic cop Gary Abbott came forward after reading about the incident in last week's Herald on Sunday.

The Blackburns were driving from their North Shore home to Auckland Hospital so Nina could give birth when they came to a standstill in heavy traffic.

After spotting Abbott's car 100m ahead, John drove on to the hard shoulder and raced alongside.

When he saw them roaring towards him, lights flashing and horn beeping, Abbott admits thinking: "What the hell is this guy doing?"

Realising it was an emergency, he helped Nina into the patrol car and parted the traffic using his sirens and lights.

"There was one stage where she was gripping the seat pretty tight and huffing and puffing. I thought maybe the baby was coming, maybe it's my driving," Abbott said.

Nina was 7cm dilated when she arrived at hospital and baby Genevieve was born soon after, weighing a healthy 3.8kg.

The situation was especially precarious because Nina's diabetes required careful monitoring during the birth.

In their panic, the Blackburns forgot to ask Abbott his name and were delighted to meet him again.

But Abbott, a father-of-two, who fainted when his first child was born, insists it was just another day at the office.

"It's part of my job. If anybody needs help, I won't turn my back on them."