Vancouver police officers help deliver twins in Oppenheimer Park

Last Wednesday, a 33-year-old woman went into labour as she strolled by Oppenheimer Park in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside neighbourhood.

A man approached two female police officers, who were on traffic duty outside a newly demolished building nearby, and told them about the woman giving birth in the park.

Paramedics were immediately called to the scene.

By the time the police officers reached the woman, the new mom was holding a newborn in her arms.

Moments later, she began giving birth to a second baby.

"At that time the woman delivered her second child with the police officers assisting the paramedics," Vancouver Police Sergeant Randy Fincham told the Province.

Fincham told the Canadian Press that the woman, who lives in the area, delivered her twins prematurely.

"These babies were delivered a lot sooner than was expected by the mother and definitely a lot sooner than was expected by the medical professionals that were looking after the woman at the time."

The babies each weighed less than 2 kilograms. The mother and twins — a boy and a girl — were rushed to the hospital. They're all doing well.

"It's not something where any of our officers start their shift, thinking that they will be out there tonight to welcome a newborn baby in the world," Fincham said. "But it was one of those unique set of circumstances that ended well for everybody."