Murray Bridge mum Natasha Angie and her stillborn baby die in Las Vegas after pregnancy complications

THE heartbroken partner and family of a South Australian woman and her baby who died in Las Vegas are pleading for public help to bring them home.

Natasha Angie, who died in Las Vegas following pregnancy complications. Picture: Facebook

• For more information on how to support the family visit: https://www.gofundme.com/24u4jx8

THE heartbroken partner and family of a woman and her baby who died in Las Vegas are pleading for public help to bring them home.

Natasha Angie, 28, and John Shaw, of Murray Bridge, were in the US when tragedy struck.

Ms Angie, who was 26 weeks pregnant with the couple’s fourth child, suddenly developed a rare form of pre-eclampsia, a pregnancy complication that ultimately claimed both her life and that of the unborn baby boy.

Her shocked family in Adelaide have shared the devastating news with The Advertiser in the hope they will raise awareness of the treatable condition.

They also want to ensure both bodies are brought home together so they can say their final goodbyes.

The couple had travel insurance but it is unclear if it will cover repatriation of the stillborn baby — the family want mother and son to return home in the same casket.

An online funding appeal has raised almost $10,000 in two days, which will be used for any excess transport costs and also to help the couple’s three other children, Kyeesha, 10, Josiah, 8, and Jacquon, 3.

Natasha Angie with her children Kyeesha and Josiah. Picture: Facebook

Just a few days after her death, the family remembered Ms Angie — or “Minnie” as she was affectionately known — as a “funny, outgoing person who got along with everybody” and who “wanted to give her kids the very best”.

Ms Angie’s uncle, Rex Angie, said his niece had begun to feel sick late last week, with a migraine and abdominal pain, but believed it was nothing serious at first.

“She then had stroke-like symptoms and was slurring her words and that is when John called an ambulance,” he said.

After presenting at Sunrise Hospital & Medical Centre in Las Vegas on Saturday, CAT scans and blood tests diagnosed Ms Angie with HELLP syndrome, a rapidly progressive form of pre-eclampsia characterised by high blood pressure that occurs in the later stages of pregnancy.

“Her blood pressure was through the roof ... early Sunday Adelaide time John rang us to say the doctors had to sedate her and put her in an induced coma,” Mr Angie said.

Natasha Angie and John Shaw in Nashville while on their dream holiday to the US. Picture supplied by family.

“They needed to get the baby out and Sunday morning the baby was born stillborn.”

As Mr Shaw stood by his wife following the death of their baby boy, he was told the worst news possible.

“He rang and said ‘I’ve just got to tell everyone we might lose Minnie’,” Mr Angie said.

Nurses and a neurologist told Ms Angie’s family via video link from Las Vegas that she would not survive.

“The nurse said she’s going downhill, she’s not responding and we’ve had to put her on life support,” Mr Angie said.

“Her kidneys were failing and her heart was very weak ... and she had a bleed on the brain. They said all you can do is pray for her.

“We told her we love her, for her to come back, and it’s not your time ... but she was brain dead.”

John and Natasha visiting the Grand Ole Opry.

Ms Angie was pronounced dead just before 1pm Adelaide time on Monday.

As he prepares to fly back to Adelaide from Las Vegas, Mr Shaw spoke to The Advertiser about the love of his life.

“I’m just trying to get by day by day,” he said.

“I will miss having Natasha around and that smile.

“I just want to get her and our son home with me so they can be laid to rest and their family can say goodbye. Any help we can get ... would be deeply appreciated.”

Mr Angie said the family would miss “everything” about his niece.

“She was a funny, outgoing person and got along with everybody,” he said.

“She was family orientated, she loved her kids and she was a good mother. She wanted to give her kids the very best.”

Natasha Angie's cousins Kia Wanganeen and Tanya Angie with their father Rex Angie. Picture: Naomi Jellicoe

Mr Shaw is liaising with the Australian Consulate but it is not known whether their stillborn baby’s journey home would be covered by insurance.

“Our priority is to make sure they get back into their own country,” Mr Angie said.

It is hoped the bodies will be flown back by this weekend. Then the family will arrange a funeral at Ms Angie’s birthplace at Point Pearce on the Yorke Peninsula.

For more information on how to support Mr Shaw and the couple’s three children Josiah, 8, Jacquon, 3, and Kyeesha, 10, visit: https://www.gofundme.com/24u4jx8