Auckland SL childbirth tragedy: Mum, baby die – grieving husband begs for investigation

A father who lost his wife during childbirth and their newborn daughter four days later is pleading for an investigation into their sudden deaths.

Speaking exclusively to the Weekend Herald, Charitha Meepegama said his wife Nilakshani (Nishi) Silva underwent an emergency C-section in an ambulance last Saturday morning and died a short time later.

The couple’s baby daughter, Eliana, was rushed to Auckland Hospital but her grieving father made the agonising decision to switch off life support four days later. The pair will be buried together today.

“I want some answers,” Meepegama said.

“I don’t know what to do or how to move on. My whole life has been wiped out just like that.”

Last Friday, as the couple were preparing for the expected arrival of their baby the following day at Auckland Hospital, they chatted about what she would look like and what she would grow up to be. They were delighted and looking forward to having their “own little family”.

“We were so excited, we saved all our money buying a cot, a pram, baby clothes – all good quality stuff. We were so happy. That was the last conversation we had.”

After listening to “Mother Mary’s Prayer”, the couple went to bed at 10.30pm.

An hour later Meepegama heard his wife, 34, struggling to breathe.

“I heard some noises – she was in pain and had difficulty breathing, so I phoned 111. The St John ambulance arrived after midnight and put Nishi on the floor and tried to help with her breathing.”

Meepegama, an IT technician, also called and texted Silva’s midwife to say she was having difficulties breathing but the midwife didn’t respond.

Silva’s health deteriorated rapidly so paramedics rushed her to Auckland Hospital by ambulance. But they didn’t get far. It’s understood the first responders performed an emergency C-section and Eliana was born in the ambulance.

“Doctors told me Nishi died from a blood clot. I don’t understand it, Nishi was fit and healthy and had no problems during her pregnancy. In the ambulance they were saying her heart was working and then it stopped, that’s why they had to deliver the baby then and there.

“I feel sad I wasn’t with Nishi when she died, I was so upset I couldn’t think.”

Glenn Metcalfe, St John Auckland District Operations Manager, said in a statement staff received a 111 call at 12.30am on Saturday for a “medical incident” in Mt Wellington. Two ambulances, two rapid response units and a manager responded.

“Crews treated and transported two patients in a critical condition to Auckland City Hospital.

“Due to patient privacy, we cannot comment on the detail of the care provided to the patients.”

The coroner’s office has confirmed Silva died not far from her home in Mt Wellington at 4.58am on Saturday.(nzherald)