ZIMBABWEAN BUS DRIVER WINS UK AWARD AFTER DELIVERING BABY ON BUS
Pummy Hadebe honoured after helping a passenger give birth aboard a Glasgow bus before paramedics arrived
A Zimbabwean bus driver has won a major United Kingdom transport award after helping deliver a baby on her bus in Glasgow.
Pummy Hadebe, who drives for McGill’s Buses, was named Frontline Employee / Community Champion of the Year at the UK National Transport Awards in London on October 1, 2026.
Her recognition followed an extraordinary incident on November 29, 2025, when she was driving the company’s Service 23 bus and a pregnant passenger went into labour while travelling to hospital with her partner.
Realising the baby was about to arrive, Hadebe stopped the bus and called for emergency assistance before helping the woman deliver her baby.
Before paramedics arrived, she placed the newborn on the mother’s stomach and used a towel from her own bag to keep the baby warm.
The mother and child were subsequently taken to hospital and were reported to be in good health.
Hadebe’s actions have earned her recognition for going beyond her normal duties to help a passenger during a medical emergency.
Her award highlights the role frontline transport workers can play in supporting members of the public when unexpected emergencies arise.