UKIP’s Kent Police and Crime Commissioner (KPCC) candidate welcomed his second child into the world on board a train at St Pancras International.
Henry Bolton, 53, missed out on the chance to deliver a high-speed police manifesto - after coming second in the recent election - but his wife, Tatiana Smurova-Bolton, 41, delivered a baby girl on a high-speed train.
Tatiana Smurova-Bolton and Henry Bolton
The proud parents were travelling on the 3.43pm Southeastern service, with their two-year-old daughter Lucinda, last Sunday (May 15) when Mrs Smurova-Bolton went into labour.
The train came to a halt at platform 13 shortly after 4pm and the carriage was cleared by staff to give space for the expectant mother.
Despite being welcomed into the world by paramedics at St Pancras, the stunned couple named their new arrival after another London station - Victoria.
After the birth, the first six carriages of the 12-car train split and left the station on its next journey after only a four-minute delay
Speaking about the miraculous birth, Mr Bolton said: "As we were pulling into St Pancras station it became obvious that we weren't going to get off and there was a lady who very kindly agreed to stay on the train with my wife whilst I went to get some assistance.
Baby Victoria weighed in at 3.82 kg (8.4 lbs)
"We got my wife on to the floor and then the paramedics arrived, we cleared everything out of the way and just prepped for birth."
The delivery was over in a matter of minutes and the family stayed on board while checks were carried out before being transferred to a nearby hospital by ambulance.
Our baby girl, born at 5pm, on high speed train at #St Pancras! Mum & baby very well. Big thank you #paramedics, Stn & #SouthEastern staff!
— Henry Bolton (@HBolton4PCC) May 15, 2016
Baby Victoria, who weighed 8.4 lbs, is still in hospital while she undergoes a course of antibiotics, but both mum and baby are said to be doing "very well".
The Folkstone-based Dad added that he was very happy with how the unusual delivery unfolded.
He said: "One of the reasons I think it went so well is because it was in a natural situation and it wasn't in a hospital with loads of things going on.”
Former UKIP KPCC candidate Henry Bolton
"The other thing is, I think that it's wonderful for a child to have something a little bit quirky in their background - and what's more quirky than being born on the train at platform 13 of St Pancras station?"
Southeastern spokesman John Staples added: "On behalf of the whole company, I would like to send Southeastern's very best wishes to the parents and family of a baby born on board our high speed train last night."
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