Former AFL player Mark Hutchings announces partner’s death after childbirth

Former AFL player Mark Hutchings announced the sudden death of his partner, Hannah Camplin, in a heartbreaking Instagram post Thursday night.

What they're saying:

"It is with deep sadness that I share the sudden loss of my beautiful partner Hannah," Hutchings wrote. "Two days following the birth of our daughter, Sofia."

"I am shattered," he added. "Her dream was to become a Mum, so it’s been incredibly difficult to take."

Hutchings ended the post by thanking people for their support and writing, "Sofia and I love you and will miss you very much Hannah."

Dig deeper:

Camplin, 36, died two days after giving birth to the couple’s first child, according to 7NEWS Australia. She reportedly suffered a cardiac arrest at a hospital on Sept. 9.

Camplin’s sister, Lucy Heke, said Hannah had spent precious time with her newborn daughter and appeared happy after the birth.

"Sofia is absolutely beautiful, and Hannah had taken to motherhood like a duck to water, she just looked very happy and content," Heke said, according to 7NEWS.

Heke said the initial investigation into her sister’s death was inconclusive and that it could take up to a year to determine exactly what happened.

"The initial investigation was inconclusive, it could be a year before they can get the full reasoning as to what happened," Heke said.

The backstory:

Hutchings, 35, played 120 games for the West Coast Eagles, including the club’s 2018 premiership victory, before retiring from the AFL in 2021. He has since moved into a career in real estate.

The Source: The story is based on Mark Hutchings’ Instagram announcement and reporting from 7NEWS Australia, which provided details about Hannah Camplin’s death, the reported cardiac arrest, comments from her sister Lucy Heke, and Hutchings’ AFL career. This story was reported from Los Angeles.