A tragic incident has unfolded in England, where a mother’s harrowing experience during pregnancy has led to the death of her newborn daughter just five days after her birth. Kimberley Newark, aged 31, has expressed her devastation following the loss of her baby, Olivia Trupiano, who died on September 19, 2024. This heartbreaking situation arose after hospital staff initially dismissed Newark’s severe abdominal pain as common “trapped wind” during her late-stage pregnancy.
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The incident was brought to light during a recent court hearing at Woodvale Coroner’s Court in Brighton. Newark was 34 weeks pregnant when she visited the Princess Royal Hospital in West Sussex, experiencing significant distress and pain. However, medics advised her partner, Yann Trupiano, to return home, believing that the pain was not indicative of a serious condition. Shortly after Trupiano departed, doctors discovered that Newark was, in fact, suffering from internal bleeding caused by a ruptured splenic artery.
“Olivia was born on September 14, 2024, via emergency caesarean section, following what was described as a maternal collapse,” court reports indicated. Following the surgery, Newark was placed in a coma, and both mother and baby were transferred to the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton for further treatment. Despite medical efforts, Olivia suffered from severe hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy, a condition caused by a lack of blood and oxygen to the brain, which can lead to severe disability or death.
Slater + Gordon Lawyers, representing the Newark-Trupiano family, confirmed that their initial investigations revealed that Newark had repeatedly raised concerns about her deteriorating health prior to Olivia’s delivery. However, the family felt their worries were dismissed by the maternity staff at the University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust. The law firm’s statement recounted how Newark’s health was mischaracterised at a critical time, leading to the tragic consequences.
Newark spoke candidly at the court hearing, recounting her ordeal: “I had fainted, felt weak, dizzy, and was in excruciating pain—a pain I knew was not normal. They told me I had trapped wind and administered medication that didn’t alleviate my discomfort.” She emphasised the anguish that accompanied the loss of her daughter, describing the profound impact on her family, particularly on their other children, aged eight and ten, who are struggling to comprehend the absence of their sister.
As Newark and Trupiano grapple with their grief, they are also calling for systemic changes to maternity care in the hope of preventing such tragedies from occurring in the future. “We want to understand why this happened and why our concerns were not taken seriously,” Newark remarked, reflecting on the need for accountability and transparency within the healthcare system.
The University Hospitals Sussex NHS Trust has publicly expressed sorrow over the tragedy, with a spokesperson stating that two reviews of Olivia’s care are underway. Dr. Maggie Davies, chief nurse, acknowledged the family’s suffering, saying, “We are absolutely sorry for the loss of Olivia and the trauma it has caused. However, we understand that no words can lessen the grief they are experiencing.”
The family’s case forms part of a broader investigation into maternity services at the Trust, which reportedly involves up to fifteen families raising concerns about care quality. At the court hearing, Trupiano remarked on the trust he placed in medical professionals, highlighting the anguish of being asked to leave under the impression that they were receiving adequate care.
Ayesha Hussain, one of the family’s legal representatives, stressed that Newark and Trupiano are deeply affected by their loss and are left with many unanswered questions regarding the care they received during this critical time.
The inquest into Olivia’s death is set to resume on October 5, 2026, further exploring the circumstances surrounding this tragic event. Meanwhile, both the University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust and the Department of Health and Social Care have yet to comment further on the ongoing investigation or the families’ calls for accountability. As the Newark-Trupiano family continues to grieve, their fight for answers highlights the urgent need for improved maternity care across the healthcare system.