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Siobhan Barling, a 30-year-old woman from Poole, Dorset, faced a traumatic experience when she was struck by an e-bike while crossing a pedestrian crossing on Herbert Avenue on January 26. At the time of the accident, Siobhan was 34 weeks pregnant with her third child. The collision caused serious complications, resulting in her son James being delivered prematurely, six weeks early.
Following the impact, Siobhan immediately feared the worst for her unborn baby, recalling how she had initially felt James move but then suddenly couldn’t sense any movement. “The first thing I said was ‘he’s dead’ because I’d felt him move and then instantly I couldn’t feel him moving any more,” she said. “I just kept thinking he’s dead, my baby’s gone. That’s it.” James required urgent medical attention after birth and spent four days in the neonatal intensive care unit at the Royal Bournemouth Hospital, where he was tube-fed and placed on a breathing machine to support his fragile condition.
The e-bike involved in the accident, described by Dorset Police as an “adapted electrically assisted pedal cycle or mountain bike” carrying a passenger, failed to stop at the scene. Thankfully, some passers-by came to Siobhan’s aid before a family member took her to Poole Hospital’s A&E. She was later transferred by ambulance to the maternity unit at the Royal Bournemouth Hospital, where she began experiencing contractions. Due to the circumstances, James was delivered by emergency Caesarean section. Reflecting on the moment, Siobhan shared, “I cried and I screamed. I knew that they were doing it for the right reasons… but there was every little part of me that said ‘is there nothing else we can do? Is there no other way?’”
Though James has since returned home and is doing well, concerns remain about potential long-term health challenges. Doctors have warned that he might face issues with his eyes, lungs, and stomach due to his premature birth. Siobhan and her husband now live with constant worry, especially over James’s lung development and the risk of choking. Aside from the physical injuries Siobhan sustained, including a haematoma and tissue damage to her hip, the psychological impact has been substantial. Siobhan admitted feeling afraid to use the crossing again and has had panic attacks when needing to walk nearby. She expressed frustration about how hurried lifestyles contribute to such incidents, saying, “People are so in a rush to get everywhere these days that they don’t always stop and think about everybody around them. Maybe the accident wouldn’t have happened if everyone slowed down a little bit.” Dorset Police continue to investigate the collision
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