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Baby born at door as nurses 'sleep'

ORDEAL: Angelina Hlabangwane claims nurse ignored her. 13/05/2005. Pic. Alfred Moselakgomo. © Sowetan.
ORDEAL: Angelina Hlabangwane claims nurse ignored her. 13/05/2005. Pic. Alfred Moselakgomo. © Sowetan.

Alfred Moselakgomo

Alfred Moselakgomo

A Mpumalanga woman claims she gave birth at the hospital door with the help of her male driver because nurses at the institution were asleep.

Angelina Hlabangwane, of Low's Creek near Barberton, told Sowetan yesterday that she suffered the ordeal on Sunday after she was taken to Barberton Hospital by a neighbour at about 3am.

She claimed the nurses were sleeping and refused to wake up, so her driver and his wife played midwife. "My neighbours called for help but none of the nurses woke up," Hlabangwane said. "I stood there in terrible pain for about 30 minutes, pleading with them to help me."

The driver and his wife helped her back to the car. "As we approached the car my child's head appeared, forcing the two to catch the baby and tie the umbilical cord," she said.

The provincial health department said it was investigating the matter.

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