Family await answers over teenage mum’s death after childbirth
Inquest starts as ‘time stands still’
PARENTS of a Havant teenager who died following childbirth hope an inquest into her death will provide them with vital answers.
Teegan Barnard suffered a cardiac arrest around two hours after delivering her healthy baby boy, Parker, at St Richard’s Hospital in Chichester on September 9, 2019.
The 17-year-old pizza chef was starved of oxygen and suffered a severe brain injury.
Teegan was discharged from hospital to spend her final days at the family home in Havant before passing away on October 7, 2019.
An inquest is now due to take place examining the circumstances as to why Teegan died.
Following her death, Teegan’s parents Abbie Hallawell and Trevor Barnard instructed expert medical negligence lawyers at Irwin Mitchell to help establish answers and support the family through the inquest process.
Abbie said: ‘Teegan and the rest of the family were delighted when she fell pregnant. She was really looking forward to becoming a parent and she would have been an absolutely fantastic mum.
‘It still doesn’t really seem real that what should have been the best day in Teegan’s life ended tragically and left all of our family changed forever.
‘It’s been more than two years since Teegan died but time has stood still for all our
The inquest is going to be incredibly upsetting but it’s something I’ve got to do. Abbie Hallawell
family. I know the inquest and listening to the evidence around Teegan’s death is going to be incredibly upsetting but it’s something I’ve got to do not only for Teegan, but also for Parker.
‘Teegan would have been so proud of Parker and how he’s such a happy baby who’s developing every day.
‘While he’ll grow up without his mum in his life, he will always be told how much Teegan loved him and how she’ll always be a part of our family.’
Abbie and Trevor are now bringing up Parker alongside his dad, Leon Forster.
An inquest into Teegan’s death will start at West Sussex Coroner’s Court tomorrow and is expected to last four days.
Rebecca Brown, the specialist medical negligence lawyer at Irwin Mitchell representing the family, said: ‘This is a truly tragic case which saw what should have been a time of celebration for the family turn to absolute despair.
‘Understandably Abbie, Trevor and the rest of the family remain devastated by Teegan’s death at such a young age and in such sudden circumstances.
‘The last two years and trying to start to come to terms with Teegan’s death, all while having a number of concerns about what happened, has been incredibly difficult.
‘We’re determined to support the family through the inquest and help establish answers the family deserve.
‘If during the course of the hearing any issues are identified, it’s vital that lessons are learned.’