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When a UK mum went into labour in the back of a cab she wasn’t expecting this reaction from the taxi driver.

Karolina Dabrowska, 36, waters burst in the taxi enroute to hospital and the driver pulled over outside a hotel.

Matthew said: ‘She said the baby’s coming, we need to stop. So we pulled over. I dialled 999 for an ambulance and ran into the hotel.

Luckily a guest at the hotel was a doctor and they helped deliver baby Sebastian after birthing complications.

‘There was a doctor in there and two minutes later my son was born in the back of the taxi.”

New dad Matthew Errington, 43, was left in shock when the Addison Lee driver started asking them to be pay a fee for clearing up.

Matthew said: ‘The actions of the taxi driver at the most stressful moment of my life was appalling.’

‘My baby came out with his cord wrapped around his neck and at that point the taxi driver starts asking me for money.

‘I said my son’s not breathing leave me alone. The doctor came out and saved my son’s life.

‘Everybody was so helpful, however the taxi driver saying, “How am I going to get my taxi clean?”

‘I got my son breathing and he is still asking for money.’

‘He started banging on the doors to get into the ambulance and said get out and clean the taxi.’

A spokesman from taxi firm Addison Lee said: ‘We would like to wholeheartedly apologise again for the service that Matthew and Karolina experienced, at what was a stressful time for them.

‘As soon as we investigated what had happened we refunded their fares for both journeys to and from hospital, discussed with the driver how he could have been more sensitive to Matthew and Karolina’s needs at a difficult time and are issuing guidance to all our drivers to ensure this unfortunate situation can never happen again.

‘As a gesture of goodwill we have also made a donation to the premature and sick babies charity, Bliss.’

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  • Drivers are responsible for keeping their taxis clean but this was extenuating circumstances! Its not like the lady chose to have her baby in the taxi. The company was great in its response though.

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  • Seems like the company dealt with the actions of their driver appropriately

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  • Time and place, pleased the company where onto it in terms of making things right as well as informing the driver

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  • He certainly could have handled that situation better… common sense should have prevailed. Glad the taxi company have stepped in and tried to make amends.

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  • Oh dear, quite a disgusting attitude. If his attitude was better, perhaps he would have been branded a hero and be on TV and then get more than he bargained for . Obviously he does not know the meaning of giving birth in his life .

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  • There is a time and place for this type of exchange. Just get the address and worry about it later, yes i know the driver is out from doing another trip until a clean up is done. The company did the right thing.

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  • That’s shocking. I’m sure the mess at the back of the taxi was the last thing the poor new dad was thinking about. I’m impressed by the Taxi firms reaction and subsequent action.

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  • Wow im guessing customer relations and compassion are not strong attributes of the driver???? Obviously not a Father either Im guessing. Anyway the important thing is baby Sebastian is well and healthy, plus any donation to help children in need or suffering illness is a much needed bonus.

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  • I can see both sides – it’s a shame it wasn’t handled better by the driver.

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  • A shame to take the shine off a precious moment. Thankfully the taxi company had sense and handled all sides with common sense and with the right priorities.

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  • I can see the taxi drivers point but it was brought up at certainly the wrong time.
    Nice to see the taxi company smoothing the situation over.

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  • It’s a shame she got such a disgusting taxi driver in the most important moment of her life!

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  • Wow, like you need that when your giving birth. I aged that details should have been exchanged

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  • I think they should have exchanged their details and talk about it in another moment. That wasn’t surely the best one.

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  • I can see both sides but that wasn’t the time or place for the taxi driver to demand payment and a clean up fee. The taxi driver in this instance should have been more sensitive to the situation.

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