Brit, 38, died after running through glass door during 'argument with boyfriend' (2025)

A British woman living in Australia has died after her arm was partially severed when she ran through a glass door.

Claire Austin, 38, severed an artery in her arm as she tried to force herself through a glass sliding door at her home in Sydney on Saturday morning.

She was taken to hospital after a neighbour called the emergency services, but she died on Tuesday.

Claire was born in the UK but moved to Australia about 10 years ago, Sky News reports.

She worked in digital marketing, and her family flew to Sydney from the UK on Tuesday morning in the hours before her death.

Floral tributes and cards have been left outside Claire’s flat. One read: ‘I am so sorry that this happened to you, especially on the shores of a foreign country.’

Another card said: ‘To the sweetest soul, it was an honour to have known you. Your presence is truly missed.

‘Thank you for all your love and support – words can’t describe how painful this is. Rest in peace Claire.’

Claire lived in a top floor flat with her boyfriend, fellow British ex-pat Lee Loughlin, 44. He reportedly told police they had an argument before her injury.

New South Wales (NSW) Police are investigating her death after it was alleged Claire was trying to escape a domestic violence situation.

A 44-year-old man, who was known to Claire, was spoken to at the scene but has since been released without charge. The man has reportedly been admitted to a mental health facility.

An application for an apprehended violence order was reportedly made on Claire’s behalf last Thursday – though it’s not clear if the person listed on the order was linked to the incident on Saturday night.

In an interview with the Australian Daily Telegraph, NSW Police Deputy Commissioner Peter Thurtell said the incident was ‘an absolute tragedy and the loss of another precious life’.

‘People have to stop dying in situations of domestic violence,’ he said.

‘Whether it’s women or men, and most of the time it is women who die in DV situations, it is tragic and it has to end.’

Chris Minns, premier of New South Wales, said: ‘I can just imagine how devastated they [Claire’s family] are today.

‘I want the public to be assured that there’s a taskforce 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.’

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