A smitten guy who supported a woman as she gave birth while they were on a date has been hailed as the 'man of the year'.
Max Silvy, 25, was due to picked up by Alyssa Hodges after the pair met on dating app Tinder.
After swiping right, they got to know each other but their blossoming romance was really tested when the 20-year-old went into labour.
Max was totally unfazed and stayed by her side her through the birth of Ollie back in September last year.
Alyssa was ready to meet the civil servant when her water broke at eight months - and she had to meet him in the hospital instead, where she gave birth with her date by her side.
The couple say the unlikely circumstances of their relationship has 'bonded' them as Max was supporting Alyssa during the early weeks of motherhood and now plan to move-in together.
Although their families were initially apprehensive about the relationship developing at such an intense time, both sides have now given their blessings to the couple.
Alyssa, from Brisbane, Australia, said: "I was about six and a half months pregnant when I went on Tinder, and I clearly stated that on my bio.
"I didn't want to lead anyone on, so I was being open and honest. I wanted them to know what they were getting into right off the bat.
"Max travels a lot for work so we'd only seen each other three times before he ended up coming to my birth.
"On the day I went into labour, I was meant to be picking Max up from the airport as he was coming back from a work trip.
"That was the plan, but I ended up texting him saying 'I'm so sorry, you'll have to get a taxi. I'm going into labour.'
"He hopped into a taxi when he got off the plane and came to the hospital and was there for me.
"My mum was also there supporting me, but she had a holiday so she was here and there. Max was there for me through the whole labour and birth.
"The labour lasted on and off for about a week. I'd be sent home and come back into the hospital for a period of four to five days.
"I was contracting for those days and Max was with me the whole time. The birth itself was about seven hours."
To help Alyssa find her feet, Max took time off work to be with her as she cared for her newborn.
Alyssa said: "He took the week off afterwards when I had no-one to help me look after Ollie.
"We both knew that we liked each other and had strong feelings for each other. But the birth was the peaking point of our relationship, it bonded us.
"Looking back, I know it was the best decision ever. I'm so glad he was there.
"Motherhood is a big adjustment for anybody, especially with me being younger. But Max taking a week off from work really helped.
"I had the baby blues. I was really upset and didn't know what I was doing.
"I felt alone and Max carried me through that week. Every time I couldn't do something, Max picked me up. He's set me up to succeed in motherhood.
"Even though I knew I liked him at the time, anything could have happened. I'd just been in a relationship where I thought it would last, and it didn't.
"So I did think 'What if this doesn't work out?', but it has and it was the best decision. I don't regret it."
For Max, Alyssa's pregnancy was not an issue to him, although he admits that being there for the birth made him 'anxious'.
Max said: "There was something that caught my eye about Alyssa. Normally I wouldn't swipe right on a pregnant girl, but there was just something about her.
"I wouldn't say the experience was overwhelming but I was anxious. I hadn't prepared mentally the way Alyssa had, so coming in late [like I did] was a rapid process.
"Anxiety was the biggest thing. There were so many unknowns, so many things that I didn't know about becoming a dad.
"There's a lot of learning that comes with being a new dad, but me and Ollie are bonding quite well."
Since sharing their story on TikTok, Alyssa has been inundated with comments from women demanding to know how she found a man like Max.
Alyssa said: "On TikTok, everybody is asking if Max has a brother, calling him 'man of the year' and saying we were the cutest little family. It was a great reaction."
