A woman from Poole has shared her harrowing experience following a collision with an e-bike that forced her to give birth to her son prematurely. Siobhan Barling, aged 30, was struck while using a pedestrian crossing, resulting in significant health concerns for her newborn.
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The incident occurred on 26 January at approximately 3:50 p.m. as Barling was preparing to cross the road. At the time, she was 34 weeks pregnant with her third child. Reports indicate that the collision involved a 13-year-old riding an e-bike, who allegedly did not stop after the crash. Dorset Police confirmed that the rider was arrested on suspicion of a driving offence, although he has since been released while the investigation continues.
In a recent interview with the BBC, Barling described the moments immediately following the accident. “All I could think was that my baby was gone,” she recalled, feeling an overwhelming fear for her son’s wellbeing. Thankfully, she was attended to by passersby until a family member arrived. She was then taken to the Royal Bournemouth Hospital after an initial assessment at Poole Hospital.
While en route to the hospital, Barling experienced a sudden onset of contractions, prompting medical personnel to perform an emergency Caesarean section. “I was crying and screaming,” she recounted, acknowledging the necessary nature of the procedure while wrestling with the fear of the unknown. Concerns over whether her baby would be healthy at birth plagued her thoughts during the emergency.
Barling’s son, named James, spent four days in the neonatal intensive care unit, being tube-fed and placed on a breathing machine to support his development. Doctors have since informed the family that James may encounter challenges related to his sight, lungs, and stomach due to being born six weeks prematurely.
The worry for Barling has not dissipated since bringing James home. “Every single day now I’m in panic mode thinking, ‘If he chokes on his sick, is he going to stop breathing?’” she shared, expressing the continued anxiety surrounding her baby’s health. Despite these challenges, she has taken her son home but is also addressing her own injuries from the accident, which include tissue damage to her hip and a haematoma in her abdomen.
In the wake of this traumatic event, Barling has altered her daily routine, opting for different routes to avoid the crossing where the collision took place. She expressed her concern over the general haste in which people navigate their daily lives. “People are so in a rush these days that they don’t always stop to think about everyone around them,” she commented, suggesting that a little more caution could prevent similar incidents.
The community has been supportive, but the lingering effects of the accident weigh heavily on her. She hopes that by sharing her story, others may recognise the importance of mindfulness when sharing public spaces. “Maybe the accident wouldn’t have happened if everyone slowed down a little bit,” Barling concluded, reflecting on the tragic turn of events.
As the investigation by Dorset Police remains ongoing, Barling’s family hopes for a resolution and also for awareness to grow around the risks associated with e-bikes, particularly in pedestrian areas. As they navigate this uncertain chapter in their lives, their focus remains on supporting baby James and hoping for his healthy development.