Mystery surrounds death in coast hospital as man faces new charge

Police have upgraded a domestic violence charge against a Sunshine Coast man after a woman died before Christmas under circumstances that remain unclear.

Officers were called to a home at Gannawarra Street in Currimundi, a suburb of Caloundra, about 4.40pm on December 22.

A 47-year-old woman was found with “non-life-threatening injuries”, police said at the time, and was taken to Sunshine Coast University Hospital.

Police were called to a home at Gannawarra Street in Currimundi following reports of a disturbance.

The woman died in hospital the following day. An autopsy is yet to be completed.

A Queensland Police spokesperson told Brisbane Times the original assessment of “non-life-threatening injuries” had been accurate. The woman did not self harm, but no further details were available on the cause of her subsequent death, which police described as sudden.

A 58-year-old Currimundi man had been arrested at the scene and was initially charged with assault occasioning bodily harm and obstructing police.

The assault charge, specified as a domestic violence offence, has since been upgraded to acting with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

Under the Criminal Code, the definition of grievous bodily harm includes “any bodily injury of such a nature that, if left untreated, would endanger or be likely to endanger life, or cause or be likely to cause permanent injury to health”.

The man remains in custody and will face Maroochydore Magistrates Court on January 6.

The police investigation is continuing.

The hospital was contacted for comment.

If you or anyone you know needs support, you can contact the National Sexual Assault, Domestic and Family Violence Counselling Service on 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732).