What started as a routine late-night fare for a Calgary taxi driver transformed into an unforgettable emergency delivery, as he helped bring a newborn baby girl into the world in the back seat of his cab amidst a severe winter storm.
A Chilling and Urgent Dispatch
Hardeep Singh Toor, a taxi driver in Calgary, received an urgent dispatch call last Saturday night. Such calls are not uncommon for drivers, often involving trips to the hospital. However, the situation Toor encountered upon arrival was far from routine. He was met with the sight of a woman in advanced labor, supported by her partner and in significant distress. "I was shocked when I saw them coming out. She's a pregnant lady and the guy is carrying her. And she was in bad pain," Toor recounted to Global News.
The conditions outside were brutal, with temperatures plunging to a frigid minus 23 degrees Celsius. A winter storm had left roads icy and treacherous. Toor's immediate focus was clear: "The main priority was to get them safely and quickly to the hospital." Their destination was the Peter Lougheed Centre, approximately a thirty-minute drive away under normal circumstances.
The Dramatic Turn En Route to Hospital
Navigating the slick roads with extreme caution, Toor concentrated on reaching the medical centre. With the hospital building already in sight, just blocks from the emergency entrance, the situation escalated rapidly. The baby decided she could not wait. The delivery happened right there in the taxi, before they could pull up to the doors.
"Before I got to those lights, when I moved up to this place, the baby started crying. So after maybe 4 or 5 seconds. Then it was a big relief for me," said Toor, describing the tense moments. When asked how long those few seconds felt, he simply replied, "Oh yes, yeah," acknowledging the immense pressure of the moment.
A Safe Arrival and a Lifelong Memory
As soon as the cab stopped, Toor sprang into action, alerting hospital security. "I told the security guy I need to go to ambulance access because a baby is on my back seat," he explained. Medical staff rushed out immediately and took over the care of the mother and her newborn daughter.
Toor shared that the baby's father was overwhelmed with joy. While the taxi driver did not learn the child's name, he was informed that the baby girl was healthy. Reflecting on the extraordinary event, Toor was asked if it was the first time he had picked up two passengers and arrived with three. With a laugh, he said, "Oh, this was the first time. This is the first time. And this will be the best memory of my life."
This incident highlights not only the unpredictability of life but also the quiet heroism of everyday individuals like Hardeep Singh Toor, who remained calm under extreme pressure to ensure a safe, albeit unconventional, delivery during a freezing Canadian winter night.
