A Koh Kong province woman gave birth to a healthy baby boy at sea on Saturday as relatives attempted to rush her to the provincial hospital by boat, local police said yesterday.

Lem Hy, chief of the mother’s home commune of Bak Khlang, identified the woman as local fisherwoman Khen Da, 25.

According to Hy, when Da went into labour, her husband and family members loaded her onto the boat and set off for the provincial hospital from her home, but time and tide wait for no man – or baby – and the infant was born before they made land.

“However, when her boat arrived at the shore, the medical team helped her and her son,” he said.

Hai Laisun, director of the Koh Kong Provincial Referral Hospital, said that both mother and son are currently in good health, and that “the Koh Kong Provincial Hospital is paying special attention” to them.

Yesterday, Hak Leng, Mondul Seima district governor, brought Da and her son a hefty load of staple foodstuffs and 100,000 riel (about $25) as gifts from the Red Cross in Koh Kong province.