A woman who mysteriously died after giving birth to her sixth child was already fighting for life when she was rushed to hospital, it has been revealed.
Vicki Butler died in Ipswich Hospital, near Brisbane, at 6.20pm on December 27, just hours after her new son Leo Victor Butler Swan was born.
Leo is in the care of his father while the other five of her children are ‘doing well’ living with her ex-husband with support from family and friends.
Vicki Butler died in Ipswich Hospital, near Brisbane, at 6.20pm on December 27
Ms Butler was farewelled at a funeral at Westside Church of Christ in Brisbane on January 5
The 41-year-old’s father Gil said at her funeral on January 5 that she delivered the newborn before she was rushed to hospital.
‘Complications set in and by the time she arrived at the hospital her situation was critical,’ he said.
‘The staff in ICU at Ipswich Hospital did their very best, they went above and beyond, but they lost the fight and we lost our Vicki.’
Ms Butler’s death is being investigated by the coroner, with her family in the dark about exactly how and why she died.
‘We’re all devastated and have many questions about how such a tragedy could occur,’ Mr Butler said.
Ms Butler’s death is being investigated by the coroner, with her family in the dark about exactly how and why she died
The 41-year-old’s father Gil said at her funeral on January 5 that she delivered the newborn before she was rushed to hospital
Giving birth outside the hospital did not appear to be Ms Butler’s plan, as according to friends she only wanted part of her labour to be at home.
‘She had told me she wanted to labour at home as much as possible so her kids could be part of the experience but she had not mentioned wanting to homebirth,’ Angie Petersen told News Corp.
Her brother Cameron Butler said the family didn’t know more than that she died from complications from childbirth and ‘may find out more’ from the investigation.
‘There’s only a couple people that know exactly what happened and where,’ he said.
Ms Butler had five children with her ex-husband, evangelical preacher Tosh Sturgess, whom she married in 2001 before they divorced a few years ago.
Mr Sturgess said Daniel 15, Christy 13, Lily 11, Hannah 9, and Zoe 6, were ‘doing really well’ with the support of family and their mother’s many friends.
‘They have lost their mum but they haven’t lost everything,’ he said.
‘They have a happy well established connection and routine with me, they have a mountain of friends, close family on both sides who love them dearly, and they have each other.’
Her brother Cameron Butler (pictured together) said the family didn’t know more than that she died from complications from childbirth and ‘may find out more’ from the investigation
The doting dad thanked the dozens who helped the family deal with the aftermath of Ms Butler’s death, and said the children were dealing with it privately.
‘Kids in grief swing between two extremes: Being normal kids and the expressions of emotion. The emotion is usually for behind closed doors,’ he said.
‘It’s good to acknowledge their loss, but please be assured they are all expressing themselves very healthily and traveling well in expressing their emotion to close friends and family.’
Leo, born a healthy baby weighing 3.87kg, will be looked after by his father Jason Swan whom Ms Butler was dating for more than a year before her death.
Ms Butler’s father said he, his wife Elaine and other family celebrated ‘a good Christmas’ together with his daughter and Mr Swan in 2016.
‘Jason never got to become my son-in-law, but has agreed to take care of baby Leo. That warms my heart and we will do everything we can to support him in every way we can,’ he said.
Her father said Ms Butler ‘wanted to be remembered and a helper, healer, truthspeaker, gentle and faithful friend, and a musicmaker’
In December 2013 Ms Butler gave birth to baby son Anthony seven weeks early, after just 33 weeks, but he died after just a few days
The family shared photos of Leo in Cameron’s arms, and being held by Zoe in a shot of all six children.
The childbirth that killed her was not Ms Butler’s first to have complications.
In December 2013 she gave birth to baby son Anthony seven weeks early, after just 33 weeks, but he died after just a few days.
The death of their sixth child devastated the couple and within a year or so their marriage ended, with Ms Butler reverting to her maiden name.
She became a single parent and homeschooled her five children as part of a close group of likeminded Brisbane mothers, one of whom spoke at her funeral.
‘Vicki did it tough, especially over the past few years,’ Mr Butler said, describing how the relationship ended ‘for various reasons’.
The proud father’s emotional eulogy detailed how Ms Butler was a ‘model baby’ born in Coffs Harbour, NSW, to missionary parents in April 1976.
She spent her early years on a remote Pacific island before moving to an Aboriginal community in Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory, and Papua New Guinea.
Mr Butler said his daughter had a happy childhood but afterwards struggled to adapt to an Australian culture that was foreign to her.
Ms Butler spent her early years on a remote Pacific island before moving to an Aboriginal community in Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory, and Papua New Guinea
Numerous tributes flowed at both the service and online, and fundraisers for her children and memorial raised $11,530 in Australia and US$5,700 in the U.S.
She moved to Brisbane to study teaching and music, excelling at flute and piano, and worked as an educator for several years before her marriage.
Her ex-husband, Mr Sturgess, frequently travelled around the world for his ministries for the Assemblies of God church.
He claims dozens of miracles healing serious illnesses have been performed at his meetings in Thailand, South Korea, Singapore, India, South East Asia, Mozambique, Africa, Mexico, and the U.S.
‘Blind eyes, deaf ears, twisted spines, major arthritis, limp arms, lame legs, brain aneurysms, ruptured spinal discs, nerve damage and many other diseases have been healed by the Lord in Tosh’s meetings,’ his website reads.
Ms Butler worshiped at his church but after their divorce she ‘found a haven’ at Westside Church of Christ in Brisbane, where her funeral was held.
‘Vicki wanted to be remembered and a helper, healer, truthspeaker, gentle and faithful friend, and a musicmaker,’ her father told mourners.
Numerous tributes flowed at both the service and online, and fundraisers for her children and memorial raised $11,530 in Australia and US$5,700 in the U.S.
‘Vicki had a nurturing nature and her passion for her children always stood out. We can all say your mum adored you,’ a homeschooling friend told her children at the funeral.
Ipswich Hospital said it was working with Queensland Police to prepare a report for the coroner investigating Ms Butler’s death
Friend Nadine Asmus wrote on Facebook: ‘She lived a full and vibrant life, blessing so many people with her kindness and generosity.
‘Her love and passion for her children, God, people, and life will not be forgotten. We miss you terribly, but find comfort in knowing you are at peace now with Jesus.’
Homeschooling friend Vivienne Fox wrote: ‘Vicki was a gifted, committed home educating mother who adored her children, but also made time to help other families, in many ways. She will be greatly missed.’
‘Vicki has left an incredible legacy in her beautiful children and the impact she has had on the world through all who knew and loved her,’ another wrote.
Ipswich Hospital said it was working with Queensland Police to prepare a report for the coroner investigating Ms Butler’s death.
‘The circumstances surrounding her death will be a matter for the coroner and it would be inappropriate to provide further comment at this stage,’ police said.