KOTA KINABALU – If the protagonist for the TV series MacGyver existed in real life, he would be Asst Supt Johri Rubinsin, whose quick actions saved the lives of a mother and her newborn baby girl on a boat at the Penambang Jetty near Safma here last night.
In the 7.30pm incident, the woman – in her 30s from Kg Lok Urai, Pulau Gaya – was said to have boarded a boat after experiencing labour pains.
However, her condition was beyond control and she gave birth on the boat.
This attracted the attention of the police on duty at Pulau Gaya, which is under enhanced movement control order.
Upon inspection, the police carried the woman and her baby to the jetty.
Johri, together with two police personnel and Rela, contacted the 999 emergency line prior to being connected to the Queen Elizabeth I Hospital.
Johri – who examined the woman – told the doctor on duty that the woman appeared weak due to blood loss, in addition to the baby still being connected to the mother by the umbilical cord.
The doctor informed Johri that he needed to tie the placenta in order to prevent infection while waiting for the ambulance to arrive.
Upon searching the area, Johri could not find any string – at which point, he asked if the string to his face mask could be used for the task. The doctor agreed, and Johri tied the umbilical cord, waiting with the woman and her baby until the ambulance arrived to take the two to hospital for further treatment.
Kota Kinabalu district police chief Asst Comm Mohd Zaidi Abdullah confirmed the incident and said the woman and her baby girl were in stable condition.
He added that the Kota Kinabalu district police headquarters is intending to “adopt” the baby.
“We are also planning to visit her at the hospital, but this is up to the hospital authorities to allow it,” he said. – The Vibes, July 27, 2021
