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Husband of mother who died after C-section birth says he blames himself

France Cappuccini was only 30 years old when she died 
France Cappuccini was only 30 years old when she died

The husband of a young mother who died just hours after she gave birth to her second son has said he continues to place blame on himself.

Frances Cappuccini's death was a result of "failures, inadequate diagnosis and treatment" at the hospital caring for her, a coroner said earlier this year.

The 30-year-old died at Tunbridge Wells Hospital in Pembury, Kent, shortly after giving birth to her son, Giacomo, by Caesearean section.

Frances Cappuccini - Credit: INS
Frances Cappuccini was a school teacher Credit: INS

Mrs Cappuccini, a school teacher, suffered heavy bleeding and was anaesthetised, but went into cardiac arrest and died at 4.20pm on October 9 2012.

In an interview with Channel 4 News, her husband Tom Cappuccini said: "I placed a lot of blame - I still do - a lot of blame on myself for not being more forceful, more aggressive with the midwives when I first got there and insisting more that we had the C-section.

"So to then imagine her waking up and being unable to breathe by herself and being conscious at the time for me - oh my God - I can't even put into words how that made me feel.

"So to have them at the inquest tell me there is no way she could have woken up has just taken so much off my shoulders."

Frances Cappuccini on her wedding day - Credit: SWNS 
Frances Cappuccini on her wedding day Credit: SWNS

He added: "I would have done anything for her. I would happily change it - I would do anything to change what has happened, absolutely anything."

Reflecting on being told his wife had died, Mr Cappuccini told the programme: "It was devastating. It completely ripped me apart. I think my first reaction - I nearly passed out. I think I fell on the floor. I think that is what happened initially."

The 10-day inquest at Gravesend Old Town Hall in Kent earlier this year heard that Mrs Cappuccini lost more than two litres (around four pints) of blood after the C-section.

Frances Cappuccini - Credit: PA 
Frances Cappuccini had an emergency C-section Credit: PA

She was subsequently operated on for a postpartum haemorrhage but never woke up from the anaesthetic.

The inquest criticised the care given to her, including a piece of placenta that was left in her womb.

Mr Cappuccini said: "I didn't sleep for weeks. I didn't sleep for weeks before and I didn't sleep for weeks after. I've never been so emotionally and physically drained at that point.

"There was a lot of pressure on myself and on the whole family in fact, my parents, my in-laws, we're all in the same boat, but I just had to keep going because this wasn't about me.

"This was about Frankie. It was about getting justice for her."

In a statement given to Channel 4 News, Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust said: "We have acknowledges that Frances' death was avoidable and we have made significant changes as a direct result of the aspects of her care which did not meet the standards we would expect."

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