British mother who gave birth on New York sidewalk returns home with baby Ila Isabelle as Good Samaritan who newborn was named after for giving up her jacket says 'You just do what you have to do'

  • Polly McCourt, 39, and her doorman tried to hail a cab on the Upper East Side on Monday - but a woman stepped out in front of her and took it
  • Mrs McCourt was already in labor and the baby's head was crowning by the time she got to the street corner
  • The mother named newborn Ila Isabelle - the middle name is after a woman who helped deliver the child in the street
  • Mrs McCourt is originally from Oxfordshire and her husband is from Dublin

By Ted Thornhill and Louise Boyle

Published: | Updated:


A mother who gave birth on a Manhattan sidewalk was all smiles as she returned to her apartment with the bundle of joy she named after a Good Samaritan who helped her.

Polly McCourt arrived back at her Upper East Side home with husband Cian and their newborn daughter Ila Isabelle two days after she had dramatically given birth on a busy street corner after an impatient woman had stolen her cab to the hospital.

Isabel Williams, 20, who kindly lent Mrs McCourt her coat to keep the baby warm explained that she just reacted instinctively.

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All smiles: Polly McCourt returns to her Upper East Side apartment with husband Cian and their newborn daughter Ila
Polly McCourt returns to her Upper East Side apartment with husband Cian and their newborn daughter Ila

All smiles: Polly McCourt returns to her Upper East Side apartment with husband Cian and their newborn daughter Ila

Sheer joy: The pair were beaming when they returned home, with their story warming the hearts of New Yorkers enduring a bitter winter

Sheer joy: The pair were beaming when they returned home, with their story warming the hearts of New Yorkers enduring a bitter winter

Little miracle: Mrs McCourt and her newborn baby pictured just moments after the birth

Little miracle: Mrs McCourt and her newborn baby pictured just moments after the birth

Kind-hearted: Good Samaritan Isabel Williams said that she was reacting on instinct when she offered her coat to Polly McCourt

Kind-hearted: Good Samaritan Isabel Williams said that she was reacting on instinct when she offered her coat to Polly McCourt


Polly McCourt, 39, explains how she tried to hail a cab on the Upper East Side but it was too late and she gave birth to baby Ila on the sidewalk on Monday

Polly McCourt, 39, explains how she tried to hail a cab on the Upper East Side but it was too late and she gave birth to baby Ila on the sidewalk on Monday

Mrs McCourt with her husband Cian McCourt and baby Ila. Mr McCourt rushed to the scene to find his wife had given birth on the sidewalk

Mrs McCourt with her husband Cian McCourt and baby Ila. Mr McCourt rushed to the scene to find his wife had given birth on the sidewalk

She told The New York Daily News: ‘You just do what you have to do, you know?’

Ms Williams said that she saw a commotion on Monday afternoon on the corner of 68th street and 3rd Avenue and initially thought someone had been run over.

When she reached the crowd she quickly dialled 911 when it transpired that no one had called an ambulance.

  
 

Quick labor: A woman gave birth to a baby girl on a New York City crosswalk yesterday afternoon

Quick labor: A woman gave birth to a baby girl on a New York City crosswalk yesterday afternoon

Mrs McCourt is lifted into the ambulance with her baby in her arms. Her husband Cian McCourt can be seen carrying a backpack

Mrs McCourt is lifted into the ambulance with her baby in her arms. Her husband Cian McCourt can be seen carrying a backpack


Cian McCourt told MailOnline today that he was extremely grateful to the bystanders who helped his wife

Cian McCourt told MailOnline today that he was extremely grateful to the bystanders who helped his wife

She said that at that point the baby had been born and while Mrs McCourt had been given sweaters and scarves to keep warm, the baby was still exposed, so she offered her own coat, as well as a sweater and shirt.

The experience was ‘intense, but really cool’, she added.

The McCourts lost Ms Williams’ phone number so weren’t able to tell her in person about the baby’s name, but the news thrilled her.

Mrs McCourt was being helped to a taxi by her doorman, Anton Rudovic, and gave him a huge hug as she arrived home, The New York Daily News reported.

Mr Rudovic had been helping Mrs McCourt, 39, hail a taxi at around 4pm on Monday, but a woman jumped in front of her and stole the cab that pulled over.

Mrs McCourt, who is originally from Oxfordshire in the UK, said: 'He [the doorman] was trying desperately to hail a cab and a lady walked out five meters in front of him and hailed a cab and got into it.

'And I went ''that's my cab, I want that cab!'''

With the baby's head already crowning, Mrs McCourt gave up trying to get to nearby Lenox Hill Hospital and sat down on the sidewalk.  

With doorman Mr Rudovic supporting her back and female bystanders holding the baby's head, the newborn arrived in under five minutes. People rushed to give their scarves and coats to wrap the baby as the temperature was in the chilly mid-30s.

Mrs McCourt's husband Cian McCourt, 40, who was stuck in traffic, told MailOnline today that he feared the worst when he came running up and saw his wife on the ground.

Mr McCourt, a partner at A&L Goodbody law firm, said: 'It was a complete shock. I came running up the street and I immediately knew it was my wife.

'I saw the crowd and I feared the worst, that she had been knocked down or something - it was really emotional.

'Then I saw the baby already in her arms. She was covered in scarves, shirts and coats, the people who helped were great.'

Mr McCourt said that his wife and new daughter, who weighs around 7lb, 'were doing great'.

Mr McCourt, who is originally from Dublin in Ireland, said they wanted to get in touch with a woman named Isabelle.

They were so grateful for her kind gesture of giving up her coat that they named their baby after her.

Mrs McCourt said: 'She was meant to be Ila Polly... but now she's Ila Isabelle. We're very happy with it.'

The couple also have a son Conor, six, and a four-year-old daughter Adele.

Mr McCourt said today that his son was aware of his new sister's dramatic arrival but was 'very blasé' about the whole thing.

Mr McCourt, pictured from the back in the blue coat, arrived at the scene moments after his wife had given birth

Mr McCourt, pictured from the back in the blue coat, arrived at the scene moments after his wife had given birth

Several women gave their scarves to wrap the baby with the temperature in the mid-30s

Several women gave their scarves to wrap the baby with the temperature in the mid-30s

Witnesses: The witness on the left said she held the baby's head as it was crowning, while the woman on the right offered up her scarf and called the birth a 'miracle on Third Avenue'
Witnesses: The witness on the left said she held the baby's head as it was crowning, while the woman on the right offered up her scarf and called the birth a 'miracle on Third Avenue'

Witnesses: The witness on the left said she held the baby's head as it was crowning, while the woman on the right offered up her scarf and called the birth a 'miracle on Third Avenue' 

 

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