David Askew’s wife Georgina tells of heartbreak over cop’s shock death

A mother who lost her police officer husband after a sudden heart attack has told of her shock, saying there were no signs anything was wrong.

AFP Sergeant David Askew died suddenly and unexpectedly of a heart attack in 2019.

A mother who lost her police officer husband after a sudden heart attack has told of her shock, saying there were no signs anything was wrong.

Sergeant David Askew died suddenly and unexpectedly of a heart attack in November of 2019. His wife Georgina Askew told the Courier-Mail she was living in the Solomons with her husband and her three kids Riley, Payton and Mia when he died.

He had been in the United States for a conference and flew back into Brisbane when he died at the gym from a heart attack. A post-mortem scan revealed Mr Askew had four severely blocked arteries.

Georgina Askew's husband David died in 2019 of an unexpected heart attack. He was a police officer so AFP Legacy helped her and her three children after his death. Pictured with her daughters, Payton, 23, and Mia, 18. Picture: Patrick Woods

Ms Askew is telling her story as part of the National Police Legacy Day which will be celebrated on June 17. AFP and QLD police Legacy has been supporting families for many years.
“David was 49 when he passed away. He was super fit, super healthy. He rarely drank. He never smoked a cigarette in his life, and certainly being a police officer, he never used drugs of any kind,” she said.

“It was a huge shock. We had no idea that it was coming.”

Ms Askew said her whole life was turned upside down.

“It was hugely unexpected, and you went in one second to being husband less, fatherless, and then jobless and homeless and countryless, like I had no idea what was going to happen to my family at that point in time, absolutely none,” she said.

AFP Sergeant David Askew died suddenly and unexpectedly of a heart attack in 2019. Photo of him and his wife Georgina Askew.

“We were there in the Solomons because David worked for the AFP. I was contracted as a locally engaged staff member. But the job was David’s.

“So I was like, Oh my gosh, we’d sold our house before we left for the Solomon. So I didn’t have a home. I was going to not have a job. And I had children who were 13 at the time, 17 and 20.

“I was like what on earth am I going to do as well as trying to deal with the fact that you just lost your soulmate.

“It was awful. You go into shock, and the body just protects you. It just shuts everything down and just kind of numbs you for a little bit, because you just can’t deal with that information.”

Ms Askew said she was provided with support immediately from AFP legacy allowing her to purchase clothes for the children to wear at the funeral.

AFP Sergeant David Askew died suddenly and unexpectedly of a heart attack in 2019.

“When someone passes away, you’re kind of in a state of shock, so you’re not taking a lot of things in,” she said.

“Legacy just slowly came in and let me know that I was not alone. There was help. They were there.

“They were going to be with me through the journey. And that whatever I needed to not be scared to ask, and if they could possibly help.”

AFP Legacy provided some assistance towards David’s children finishing their education.

Each state and territory has its own Police legacy Charity. QLD Police Legacy has also helped a number of families.

In May 2004, Queensland Police Service Senior Sergeant Jim Forrester had a massive heart attack at work and died aged just 48.

Queensland Police Legacy ensured his widow, Janelle Forrester, and their three children, Ally, Tyrone and Beaudyne, have been looked after since his passing.

Queensland Police Legacy helped pay Ally’s way through law school.

“It took the financial stress from both myself and mum so I could just focus on my studies, and I got Honors,” Ally said.

Originally published as David Askew’s wife Georgina tells of heartbreak over cop’s shock death