What ‘terrified’ dying mum told her husband as she bled to death after ‘smirking’ midwives refused C-section
Frances Cappuccini was "certain" she wanted a cesarean but her husband has claimed they were persuaded to have a natural birth instead
A MOTHER-of-two's final words to her husband were "I love you - if anything happens just make sure you look after the boys" as she was rushed into emergency surgery she never woke up from, an inquest has heard.
Primary school teacher, Frances Cappuccini, 30, died just eight hours after the birth of her second son Giacomo, after she lost several litres of blood.
Mrs Cappuccini wanted to have a caesarean with her second child after she had a traumatic experience with the birth of her first son and was "terrified" about giving birth again.
When she was taken to Tunbridge Wells Hospital at Pembury, Kent on October 8 2012 after going into labour by her husband, Tom Cappuccini, the couple were told not to make a decision based on "pain or fear".
Giving evidence at the inquest Mr Cappuccini said the midwives had "almost a smirk across their face almost laughing" when the couple told them Mrs Cappuccini needed a caesarean.
Following their advice, Mrs Cappuccini endured a gruelling 12 hour labour before she was rushed for an caesarean at 8.30am the next morning.
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The inquest in Gravesend, Kent heard how when the new mum was feeding her newborn son for the first time she felt blood "flowing between her legs" and was rushed into surgery.
Mr Cappuccini told the hearing: "I had the opportunity to kiss her and tell how much I loved her.
"She said I love you and if anything happens make sure you look after the boys."
Following the surgery Mr Cappuccini was told a piece of placenta which was described as "raggedy" was found in her uterine cavity.
She was rushed to an Intensive Care Unit when she failed to come around from the general anaesthetic.
Appearing emotional in court, Mr Cappuccini said: "I was told that I could see her when she was stable in the ICU but I never got the chance.
"At 4pm a group of doctors came to see me and said her blood pressure had dropped and her heart had stopped. They had tried to revive her but they were unable to do so."
She was one of the greatest people I am ever likely to meet in my life
Tom Cappuccini
Making an emotional tribute to his wife, Tom Cappuccini added: "She was one of the greatest people I am ever likely to meet in my life."
"She was very bubbly, kind, caring and loving person. She had lots of friends and lots of time for her friends.
"She was a great mother, a fantastic wife and she loved looking after Luca.
"As a teacher her education background enabled her to give him a good start to his young life."
Pathologist Sebastian Lucas, who performed a post mortem examination at St Thomas Hospital in central London, said Mrs Cappuccini died of cardiac arrest.
"That was done under general anaesthetic and the problems happened when that procedure had finished when she was recovering from General anaesthesia and it's from that time that things went awry.
"It looks as though she suffered respiratory arrest which led to multi organ problems and ultimately her death."
He also said she had lost up to 50 per cent of her blood.
The inquest was originally halted in 2014 when it became apparent that criminal charges could be brought following the tragedy.
Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust made legal history by becoming the first NHS trust to face corporate manslaughter charges.
But the case was dismissed by a judge at the Inner London Crown Court in February 2016.
Dr Errol Cornish, the consultant anaesthetist who treated Mrs Cappuccini, was also told he had no case to answer with regards to gross negligence manslaughter charges against him.
Another doctor, Nadeem Azeez, also had charges against him dropped.
The inquest, which is due to last 10 days, continues.
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