Rebecca Adlington has announced the stillbirth of her baby daughter.
The former competitive swimmer, 34, took to Instagram on Sunday night to share the heartbreaking news.
She penned: ‘I don’t really have the words right now but unfortunately we went for our 20 week scan this week and they found no heartbeat.
‘I gave birth to our angel, Harper on Friday at 7pm. We held her, and had time with her. We will forever love her and remember her always.’
Rebecca already shares son Albie, two, with husband Andy Parsons as well as daughter Summer, eight, from her previous marriage to swimmer Harry Needs.
Upsetting news: Rebecca Adlington has announced the stillbirth of her baby daughter (pictured during her pregnancy)
Rebecca revealed her third pregnancy in September this year – a year after the couple suffered a devastating miscarriage.
Rebecca captioned her social media post: ‘Our own bit of magic Baby number 3 on the way’.
It comes after Rebecca said she feels ‘responsible’ for the tragic miscarriage she suffered last year and revealed how the heartbreak made her reluctant to try again for a third child.
Rebecca went in to hospital for her 12-week-scan and later had to go down for the emergency surgery after discovering she had miscarried the child.
After being sent home following the surgery, Rebecca had to be readmitted to treat sepsis, a kidney infection and a fever.
In an interview with The Mirror, Rebecca said: ‘Because I’d had two children without any problems, a miscarriage never crossed my mind. I realise this might sound naïve, but I expected some signs.
‘I felt really responsible for the miscarriage, even though it wasn’t my fault. I remember speaking to the doctors and they said there was nothing I could have done to prevent what happened.’
‘But you’ve got all this pressure to protect something – this delicate being, this precious, special, incredible baby – for nine months, and it just seemed crazy because I’ve done it twice before and been absolutely fine.’
Andy and Rebecca tied the knot back in August with a Cheshire ceremony, five months after welcoming their son.
The pair met on dating app Bumble in 2018, with the swimmer gushing after their wedding ‘It worked out perfectly for us. We couldn’t be happier’.
The couple started dating two years after the swimmer split from her ex husband Harry, and she previously admitted she was nervous about dating again.
The couple quickly fell in love and facilities manager Andy moved from Liverpool to live with Becky in Manchester in 2019.
Rebecca, who won two gold medals at the 2008 Olympics and two bronze medals at London 2012, was previously married to Summer’s father Harry – with the pair splitting in 2016.
As a result of Rebecca’s two gold medal win at the 2008 Summer Olympics, she became Britain’s first Olympic swimming champion since 1988. In 2013, aged 23, she retired from all competitive swimming.
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