The dramatic ending of an NFL game in Indianapolis Sunday started with an equally-heart pounding moment off the field.
A relative of Cleveland Browns wide receiver David Bell gave birth to a baby girl at Lucas Oil Stadium during his team’s away game against the Colts.
Bell didn’t record a catch Sunday, but had a new baby niece by the time the final whistle blew during Cleveland’s last second 39-38 win.
Bell’s mother, Kareem Butler, told Fox 59 that as the expecting mother approached the stadium she went into labor.
“So, when they got here, they went to the first aid,” she explained. “By the time they got her back there, the baby was crowning and they delivered her here at the stadium at 1:20.”
Bell’s mother and relative were among about 300 friends and family members in the stands for the game. The second-year player grew up in Indiana and played for Purdue University before he was drafted in 2022.
He called the birth of the baby girl a “blessing.”
“Her whole idea was to try to have the baby before the game, but you know it’s all in God’s time,” he said, according to Fox 59. “So, now I have a new niece. So, hopefully I get to see her when I come back to the city.”
One of the EMTs that helped deliver the child told the Indianapolis Star her usual requests for aid come from fans that are in pain or not feeling well.
“But you don’t walk into work and think, ‘I’m going to go deliver a baby today,’ unless you work in labor and delivery,” advanced EMT Ashley Vlaskamp, of Indiana University Health, said, “especially not at a football stadium.”
“After everything was over, I kind of had a moment where I just stood there and said, ‘Wow, that just happened,’” Vlaskamp also told the newspaper.
A Lucas Oil Stadium spokesperson wished the newborn and her family congratulations in a statement to USA Today.
“We also want to express our gratitude to our partners at IU Health, they are consistently well-prepared for any medical situation at the Stadium and yesterday was no exception,” the spokesperson said.
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