Boyfriend of dead marketing exec tells cops how she suffered fatal injury

Lee Loughlin, 44, has been assisting police with their investigation since his girlfriend Claire Austin, 38, was found with a partially severed arm along with other horrific injuries, at their Randwick unit on Saturday morning.

Claire Austin, 38, (right) was on life support in St Vincent’s Hospital after an alleged domestic violence attack at her Randwick home on Saturday morning. Picture: Facebook,

The boyfriend of a digital marketing executive who died from catastrophic injuries told detectives the couple was having an argument when she “ran through a glass door”, police will allege.

Lee Loughlin, 44, has been assisting police with their investigation since his girlfriend Claire Austin, 38, was found with a partially severed arm along with other horrific injuries, at their Randwick unit on Saturday morning.

Ms Austin was taken to St Vincent’s Hospital where she spent three days on life support, but tragically died on Tuesday afternoon.

Recruitment exec Lee Loughlin, 44, whose girlfriend Claire Austin, 38, died at their Randwick unit on Saturday morning. No charges have been laid.

A concerned neighbour called Triple Zero at around 7.30am after hearing “screaming and banging” coming from a top floor unit.

Emergency crews rushed to the Randwick St complex and found Ms Austin suffering massive blood loss from a severed artery in her arm.

Claire Austin, 38, (left) died after she suffered a massive laceration to her arm during an argument at her Randwick unit, on Saturday. Picture: Facebook,

Police will allege Mr Loughlin told officers at the scene that Ms Austin “ran through a glass door” to get away from the argument, causing the massive injury to her arm.

It is understood there was an internal glass sliding door inside the apartment, between the living room and an enclosed verandah, that was shattered.

Mr Loughlin, a recruitment company boss, was taken to Maroubra police station to “assist with inquiries” before detectives admitted him to a mental health facility.

He has since been released but is yet to give a formal statement to police, who have set up Strike Force Lyndoch to investigate the circumstances surrounding Ms Austin’s “suspicious death”. No charges have been laid in relation to this matter.

Lead Group where Mr Loughlin is listed as a co-founder, declined to comment on his wellbeing since the devastating death of his girlfriend.

“We are unable to provide any comment at this time,” director Adrian Byra said.

Ms Austin’s family rushed to Sydney from the UK, and arrived on Tuesday morning.

Anyone with information about Ms Austin’s death is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.