Paramedic Gio's a babe magnet (From Campaign Series)

Paramedic Gio's a babe magnet

8:40am Sunday 30th November 2008

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A RHONDDA Cynon Taf paramedic is a one-man baby-boom - he has delivered an incredible 16 babies in a 20-year career with the Welsh Ambulance Service.

That makes Paramedic Giovanni Rio, who is based in Rhondda Cynon-Taf, something of a baby magnet and colleagues reckon he probably holds the record for the most deliveries in the service.

His most recent was one of the trickiest - little Shaunagh James, from Ynysybwl, was a breech birth which means she was delivered feet first and needed emergency oxygen after the umbilical cord got wrapped around her neck.

Gio used all his experience though and coped and mum Amanda James, 31, said: "If I had gone into hospital I would have had to have a Caesarean.

"But Gio was fab and as far as I'm concerned Shaunagh's life was in his hands when she was born."

Shaunagh, 7lb 1oz at birth, was a third child for Amanda, of Thompson Street, Ynysybwl, but number 16 for Gio although it was only the second time he has had to deal with a breech birth.

Gio, from Cathays, in Cardiff, is a father himself, was overjoyed and said: "My son was born by Caesarean section, so I know what it's like as a parent.

"I'm so happy that I was there and I did the best I could and that the outcome was successful.

"My colleagues also dealt with it really well, they were excellent.

"It's good to see the baby doing so well and to see what a little beauty she is."

Gio, 46, thinks his job is rewarding because it can make a difference. Describing the moment that baby Shaunagh started crying and everyone realised that the worst was over, he said: "That was very special. I didn't want to be in that situation, but it's a special thing when you deal with it.

"The James family have been very nice and have sent me copies of the pictures they took and a nice letter - I will keep in touch with them Gio, 46, who joined the ambulance service 24 years ago, actually moved onto Emergency Medical Services in 1989 which was the year he delivered his first baby.

He has been a paramedic since 1991 and in the course of one hectic 24 hours he delivered three babies: "In those days we used to do double shifts, finishing at midnight and back in again for eight the next morning.

"I had done two the previous evening and the first job the next day was another and I delivered another baby."

Control Manager Roger Jenkins, who is based at Church Village, in the Rhondda, said: "I've been in the Ambulance Service for 35 years and was on the front line myself for 20 years and I only delivered a couple.

"It's a remarkable number - I've never known anyone else approaching that number."

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