Helicopter Becomes Delivery Room; Mother and Baby Well

A 21-year-old Antelope Valley woman gave birth to a boy Friday while en route to a hospital in a Fire Department helicopter, authorities said.

Two Los Angeles County Fire Department paramedics delivered the healthy baby. The mother, Julie Enis, and her son Johnny were in good condition at the Antelope Valley Hospital in Lancaster, officials said.

The unusual delivery occurred during the 15-minute flight between Enis’ home in the rural desert community of Lake Los Angeles and the hospital. The boy was delivered by paramedics Dan Coffman and Jack Ferme while pilot Bob Dunbar flew the helicopter.

“She wasn’t in imminent delivery when we left,” said Coffman. “But she delivered about halfway there. It was very quick. No problems at all.”

Inspector John Lenihan said the airborne delivery was unusual because when birth is imminent, paramedics routinely deliver the baby at the mother’s home rather than risk having to do so in the small helicopter.

“We usually try to do it so it happens at the hospital or the house, not in the air,” Lenihan said. “But this time Murphy’s Law took over. The boy decided he wanted to come out. He did.”

Because Lake Los Angeles is a 20- to 30-minute ambulance drive from the closest fire station, Fire Department helicopters from a base in Pacoima are routinely dispatched to emergency calls, Lenihan said.

It was Ferme’s first delivery--in the air or on ground.

But Coffman is a veteran. “My 23rd,” he said proudly.

Lenihan said he knew of only one other instance when a baby was delivered in a Fire Department helicopter--also by Coffman.