Tiny miracle: Medical staff attending to the mother and newborn upon their arrival at Hospital Duchess of Kent in Sandakan.
SANDAKAN: A routine morning e-hailing trip turned into an unforgettable moment for driver Norwinn Mohammad when a passenger unexpectedly gave birth in the back seat of her car during a short ride to Hospital Duchess of Kent here.
Norwinn, 39, picked up a married couple and an elderly woman from Bandar Letat at about 7am yesterday for what was supposed to be a five-minute drive.
The family told her that the expectant mother had been experiencing contractions since 3am.
But the delivery happened much quicker than anyone expected.
“The mother was very calm. She didn’t scream at all,” Norwinn said.
“Suddenly, her aunt panicked, and the next thing I knew, the baby was already out. It happened so fast.”
She continued driving to the hospital, choosing not to stop as the older woman tended to the mother and newborn in the back seat.
When they arrived, the baby had not yet cried, but Norwinn said both mother and infant appeared fine.
She managed to capture a short video of the newborn to remember the moment.
“The baby was so cute. I was so overwhelmed at the time that I forgot to ask the baby’s gender,” she added.
Norwinn recalled how the husband kept apologising and asking about cleaning costs.
She said he looked exhausted and worried – still processing that his child had arrived in the back seat of a stranger’s car.
She refused any payment and told him to focus on his wife and newborn, reminding him that a car could always be washed.
Her Facebook post about the incident quickly made its rounds on social media.
Some thanked her for helping the family at such a crucial moment.
The post also reached a local car wash, whose owner contacted her and insisted on cleaning her car for free – a gesture that she said made her feel deeply appreciated.
Norwinn said she was genuinely glad she was there at the right time, and said that it was an unforgettable experience for her.
“I spent some time at the hospital. I had other bookings but I put everything aside because they needed help more.
“I always remind myself – if we make someone’s burden lighter, God will make ours lighter, too,” she said.
Both mother and baby were reported to be in good condition when she left the hospital.
