It was just past midnight, baby was on its way and dad Alan Howard was on the phone pleading with the midwife: “You will be quick, won’t you?”

She replied: “I can only go as quick as my sat nav brings me.”

From that moment, 31-year-old Alan, of Appleford Drive, Minster, knew he was on his own.

His partner Lindsey Checksfield , 36, who had elected for a home birth, was 12 days overdue when the happy event started unfolding in the early hours of June 26.

“I knew I had to take action things were moving too fast,” said proud dad Mr Howard, who used to run The Sun pub in Russell Street, Sheerness, but is currently unemployed.

“We were in bed when Lindsey woke me up and said 'I think it’s happening’. I got a plastic sheet to cover the bed and made the surface softer with a normal sheet over it.

“Lindsey’s contractions just kept getting faster and faster and it was impossible for the midwife to make it to us on time. I put pillows under Lindsey’s head to make her more comfortable. The baby popped out at 1.19am and I wrapped her in a blanket and placed her in Lindsey’s arms.

The child, Layla-Jade Howard, weighed 7lb 8oz.

Alan added: “Helping to deliver her was an amazing experience. I cut the cord myself. When the midwife arrived both she and Lindsey praised me. I had no prior training. I was just so happy to be there at the birth and be able to do something.”

The happy event is a far cry from eight years ago when Mr Howard was hit by a taxi as he was crossing Marine Parade in the early hours of the morning.

The Times Guardian reported in December 2008 how he received a £500,000 compensation payout. He recalled: “I flatlined twice in hospital but thankfully survived; I suppose I’m a bit of a survivor.”