Woman D!es After Running Through Glass Door Trying To Escape Alleged Domestic Abuse Incident
A 38-year-old woman has been reported dead after running through a glass door while trying to escape an alleged domestic violence incident in Australia, according to reports.
In a news release shared on April 16, New South Wales (NSW) Police said an investigation had been launched following the “suspicious de@th” of the woman who d!ed three days after being found critically injured at an apartment unit in Randwick, a Sydney suburb.
Authorities said emergency services were called at 7:40 a.m. local time on April 12 “following reports of a concern for welfare,” and found a woman with a “severe laceration” to her arm. She was taken to St Vincent’s Hospital in Sydney in a critical condition, but she d!ed on April 15.
According to The Sydney Morning Herald, which identified the victim as marketing and events manager Claire Austin, police believe she was trying to flee a domestic violence incident when she was injured. The outlet reported that Austin was fatally injured when she tried to force her way through a sliding door in her top-floor apartment.
Police noted that they spoke to a 44-year-old man, who was known to the woman, at the scene. He was then taken to Maroubra Police Station to assist with inquiries but was later released without charge, per the news release.
No arrests have been made at this time.
The outlet and The New Zealand Herald reported that police had applied for an apprehended violence order [a court order issued to protect an individual who has a reasonable fear of violence or harrassment from a specified person] on behalf of Austin and it was due to be heard in Waverly Local Court on April 16, the day after her de@th.
NSW Premier Chris Minns called reports of Austin’s de@th “disturbing,” per The Sydney Morning Herald.
“I feel so terribly sorry for that woman and her family,” he said.
“I can just imagine how devastated they are today. It’s another example of somebody dying, allegedly at the hands of domestic violence,” Minns continued. “I want the public to be assured that there’s a task force that’s been set up by NSW Police. They’re taking it incredibly seriously and the focus will be justice for that woman and her family.”
NSW Police Deputy Commissioner Peter Thurtell said police were “determined to work out exactly what happened” and described Austin’s de@th as an “absolute tragedy,” according to The Daily Telegraph, per The Sydney Morning Herald.
“People have to stop dy!ng in situations of domestic violence,” he continued. “Whether it’s women or men, and most of the time it is women who d!e in DV situations, it is tragic and it has to end.”
A spokesperson for NSW Police told PEOPLE in a statement via email, “As the investigation is current and no person has been charged, it would be inappropriate for police to make comment on anything said or speculated on by media in reporting on the incident.”
Austin had worked as a senior event producer at Sydney creative agency The Misfits Media since March, according to her LinkedIn profile, per The Sydney Morning Herald. She was originally from the U.K. and studied there before moving to Australia, per the outlet.
