A woman in Worcestershire delivered her baby in a fast-food parking lot following an unsuccessful trip to the hospital earlier that day. Katie Murphy and Stephen Kirby were en route to medical care when the birth took place at a Bromsgrove KFC on August 29.
A 9:35 p.m. delivery in a Bromsgrove KFC parking lot
On August 29, 2026, at approximately 9:35 p.m., a newborn baby named Cody entered the world in an unconventional setting. Katie Murphy, 33, and her partner, Stephen Kirby, 32, were in the midst of a high-stakes drive through Worcestershire, England, when the delivery became unavoidable. According to the report, Kirby had to catch the infant as he emerged from Murphy while they were stopped at a Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) in Bromsgrove.
The delivery was a frantic affair that occurred well before medical professionals could intervene. While the couple was racing toward a hospital, the baby's arrival forced a sudden stop in the fast-food parking lot. Kirby acted as the primary responder, catching the newborn just as he arrived, a moment that has since earned the child the nickname "Colonel Cody" in honor of the restaurant's famous founder.
The failed morning hospital visit and the 9 p.m. return
The circumstances leading to this roadside birth highlight the unpredictable nature of pregnancy and the potential for medical "false alarms" to turn into emergencies. As the report notes, Murphy and Kirby had actually visited a hospital earlier that same morning, hoping to begin the delivery process. However, medical staff sent the couple home around 4 p.m.,determining that it was still too early for the baby to arrive.
The situation changed rapidly as the evening progressed. despite the earlier dismissal, Murphy’s contractions persisted for several hours, prompting the couple to attempt a return trip to the hospital at approximately 9 p.m.. it was during this second attempt—roughly halfway through a 30-minute journey—that the urgency of the situation peaked, leading to the unexpected encounter in the KFC lot. The couple, who are also parents to a 4-year-old daughter, were caught in a race against time that ended in a parking lot rather than a maternity ward.
KFC’s "bucket loads of love" for Colonel Cody
In the wake of the event, the fast-food giant has moved to turn a chaotic moment into a gesture of community goodwill. A spokesperson for KFC commented that the company is "honored to have been the place of Cody's birth" and expressed a desire to support the family. The brand has reportedly promised to send "bucket loads of love" to the Murphy-Kirby household, including branded merchandise and food vouchers to help them celebrate the new arrival.
The family has already embraaced the connection to the brand. Murphy mentioned that the couple intends to take the newborn to the Bromsgrove KFC for his very first birthday, perhaps even joking about securing him a "weekend job" there in the future. This level of engagement turns a stressful medical event into a lighthearted piece of local lore that celebrates both the new life and the location of his arrival.
Unverified details of the frantic Bromsgrove drive
While the story has a happy ending, several specific details regarding the medical and logistical aspects of the night remain unconfirmed. It is still unknown exactly how the transition from the car to the arrival of paramedics was managed, or what specific medical precautions were taken during the delivery in a non-sterile environment. Furthermore, while the report states that Cody is "perfectly healthy and happy," the full medical assessment following his arrival at the hospital has not been made public.
Additionally, the report does not specify whether the hospital's earlier dismissal at 4 p.m. played a role in the suddenness of the labor later that night, or if the onset of contractions was an entirely independent physiological event. For now, the public is left with the heartwarming image of a family celebrating a "Colonel" born under the neon lights of a fast-food chain.
Comments 0