Pregnant mother dies after collapsing in hospital car park before doctors save her baby girl

An expectant mother died after collapsing in a hospital car park before medics managed to save her baby girl.

Nick Molloy, 35, has opened up about the heartbreak of losing his wife Rachel, 36, who was nine months' pregnant when she suddenly died in April this year.

The couple, from Sale in Trafford, presumed Mrs Molloy was going into labour when she started getting stomach pains.

However, she collapsed at the entrance to Wythenshawe hospital in Manchester and later died after suffering from a ruptured splenic artery aneurysm, a rare and often fatal pregnancy complication for mother and baby.

Their baby daughter, Isabelle, was saved by emergency c-section but has remained in intensive care since due to the trauma of the birth.

“She was the light of my life and my true soulmate,” Mr Molloy said. “I can’t imagine this world without her, because she was my world.”

He explained that the couple had not known the sex of the baby before the birth because Mrs Molloy wanted to keep it a surprise.

"Rach never got to meet our little girl," he added. "It breaks my heart to think that Isabelle will never get to meet her mother. But I know Rach’s memory will live on in her children and everyone who knew her."

Mr Molloy said the couple had decided if they had a daughter to name her Isabelle Rey, but after realising what was about to happen, he changed it to Isabelle Rachel.

Writing on his JustGiving page, Nick Molley said up to 75 hospital staff “battled away” in the operating theatre to save his wife but she passed away at 1.36am on April 26.

Two months on, Isabelle is still in the neonatal intensive care team at St Mary’s Hospital.

Although she is no longer on a ventilator, the long term consequences of any brain damage won’t be known for quite some time.

"You hear of tragedies but they don’t really hit home for you – they happen on the news and in films," Mr Molloy said.

"But when it happens to you, you just can’t believe it.

"If this hadn’t happened to Rach then Isabelle would have been fine – she would have been a little early, but she was a healthy weight and had no development problems.

"She’s come a long way in the two months, but it’s a very long road ahead."

Mr Molloy launched a fundraising appeal as a thank you to both hospitals.

“In my mind, if this money helps save someone’s life or stops another family from going through something horrible, then it has done its job," he said.

"I’m holding onto that thought, because I’m really struggling to see any other good that can come of this.

“I want to help people now. My perspectives on life have completely changed.”