SIBU: Firemen in Sarikei had to break open the padlock of the barrier gate at the Expressboat Terminal 2 on Jalan Wharf here to save the life of a woman and her baby late Tuesday (July 2) night.

According to Sarikei Bomba chief, Mahmudin Narudin, the 22-year-old pregnant woman was travelling on a longboat with her husband to Sarikei Hospital from her home in Bukit Kinyau as she was experiencing labour pains.

"We received a distress call at 11.56pm on Tuesday on a woman who could not board the terminal as the gate was locked," he said.

Mahmudin said 10 firemen were immediately despatched to the scene.

Upon arrival, they saw that the woman and her husband were stuck outside.

"We had to break the padlock to allow paramedics to get in to help the woman," he said.

The woman later delivered a baby boy on the bench of the terminal with the aid of a team of paramedics.

Mahmudin said both mother and baby were in stable condition at Sarikei Hospital.