Indonesian pilgrim gives birth near Grand Mosque as emergency team springs into action

Dubai: An Indonesian pilgrim gave birth in the outer courtyards of the Grand Mosque in Mecca on Friday morning, in a rare but moving scene that was made possible thanks to the preparedness and professionalism of Saudi Arabia’s emergency medical teams during the busy post-Hajj period.

The Saudi Red Crescent Authority in Mecca confirmed that one of its ambulance teams successfully performed the field delivery on-site after receiving an emergency call at 9:21 a.m. from the mosque’s southern courtyards.

The call reported a woman suffering from severe abdominal pain, which responders quickly recognized as labor.

Following established medical protocols, the team conducted the delivery at the scene. Both the mother and newborn were then transported to the nearest healthcare facility for further evaluation and care. Authorities said both were in stable condition.

The authority emphasized the importance of immediate communication in medical emergencies and urged the public to use emergency number 997, the “Asefne” mobile app, or the emergency call function on the “Tawakkalna” app to ensure fast and accurate location tracking.

In a statement, the Red Crescent reaffirmed its commitment to providing urgent medical assistance to pilgrims from around the world and ensuring their safety throughout their spiritual journey in the holy sites.