A woman has died after running through a glass door while trying to escape an alleged domestic violence incident in Australia, according to reports.
In a news release shared on April 16, New South Wales (NSW) Police said an investigation had been launched following the “suspicious death” of a 38-year-old woman who died three days after being found critically injured at an apartment unit in Randwick, a Sydney suburb.
Authorities said emergency services were called at 7:40 a.m. local time on April 12 “following reports of a concern for welfare,” and found a woman with a “severe laceration” to her arm. She was taken to St Vincent’s Hospital in Sydney in a critical condition, but she died on April 15.
According to The Sydney Morning Herald, which identified the victim as marketing and events manager Claire Austin, police believe she was trying to flee a domestic violence incident when she was injured. The outlet reported that Austin was fatally injured when she tried to force her way through a sliding door in her top-floor apartment.
Police noted that they spoke to a 44-year-old man, who was known to the woman, at the scene. He was then taken to Maroubra Police Station to assist with inquiries but was later released without charge, per the news release. No arrests have been made at this time.
The outlet and The New Zealand Herald reported that police had applied for an apprehended violence order [a court order issued to protect an individual who has a reasonable fear of violence or harrassment from a specified person] on behalf of Austin and it was due to be heard in Waverly Local Court on April 16, the day after her death.
NSW Police Deputy Commissioner Peter Thurtell said police were “determined to work out exactly what happened” and described Austin’s death as an “absolute tragedy,” according to The Daily Telegraph, per The Sydney Morning Herald
“People have to stop dying in situations of domestic violence,” he continued. “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.”
A spokesperson for NSW Police told PEOPLE in a statement via email, “As the investigation is current and no person has been charged, it would be inappropriate for police to make comment on anything said or speculated on by media in reporting on the incident.”