‘Two people in, three people out’: How a late-night taxi trip became a birth story in Canada

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Calgary taxi driver Hardeep Singh Toor helped a pregnant passenger reach the hospital during a winter storm, where she gave birth in his cab just before arrival. Both mother and baby are healthy, and Toor called it a proud, unforgettable experience.

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An Indian-origin taxi driver in Canada found himself at the centre of a dramatic late-night emergency after a pregnant passenger went into labour during a ride to the hospital, turning a routine trip into a life-changing moment.

Hardeep Singh Toor, a cab driver based in Calgary, received what initially appeared to be an urgent hospital pickup late last Saturday. According to Global News, the situation escalated almost immediately after he picked up the couple, when it became clear the woman was already in active labour.

“It was a pregnant lady, and her companion was helping her get in (the cab). She was in pain,” Toor told CTV on Thursday. From the first few moments, he said he understood that time was critical.

Toor briefly considered calling an ambulance but decided against it after weighing the conditions outside. “My thought was I should call an ambulance…but looking at the weather, I thought maybe it’s not the right call,” he said. “Her body language was telling me she did not have the time…I decided to drive.”

What followed was a tense 30-minute journey through stormy winter weather. With icy roads, poor visibility and temperatures dipping to around minus 23 degrees Celsius, Toor focused entirely on getting to the hospital as fast and as safely as possible. He recalled hearing shouting and movement from the back seat as traffic lights and road conditions slowed their progress.

Just a few blocks away from the Peter Lougheed Centre, the sounds from the rear of the cab suddenly stopped. The baby had been born moments before they reached the hospital.

“I did not stop…I was thinking I should get there as soon as possible to get them (to medical attention),” Toor said. When he arrived, medical staff rushed out to the vehicle to assist the mother and newborn. “When I got there and saw the staff running to the car, I stepped out, I let them do whatever they needed,” he added. He was later told that both the mother and the baby were doing well.

Toor, who has been driving a cab for four years, said the experience left a lasting impression on him. “It’s my first experience getting two people in and three people out,” he said, describing the unexpected delivery as a “proud moment.”