Former West Coast Eagles player Mark Hutchings has named his newborn daughter Sofia Hannah Rose in honour of his late partner, Hannah Camplin, who died days after giving birth.
Hutchings, 35, shared photographs of Sofia on Instagram on Monday evening, including an image of Ms Camplin smiling as she held their daughter in the maternity ward.
“Introducing Sofia Hannah Rose Hutchings born 7 September 2026,” he wrote. “Always carrying Mum’s spirit within you 🤍. Your family loves you very much ❤️.”
Ms Camplin, 36, died in a Perth hospital on September 9 after suffering a cardiac arrest, two days after Sofia was born.
Messages of support have continued to reach Hutchings and his family from AFL players, fans and friends. Former teammate Tom Barrass responded to the post with a heart emoji, while another friend wrote: “Proud of you. Hannah would be so bloody proud of the dad you are mate 🫶🏼”.
A GoFundMe page was later launched by a family friend to allow people to offer practical support, thoughts and prayers to Hutchings.
“Hannah will always be deeply loved, forever missed, and never forgotten. We know she will be Sofia’s guardian angel, and is already looking down on them so proud of the Dad Mark has become,” the page said.
Ms Camplin was an intensive care nurse at Royal Perth Hospital and also worked with the hospital’s trauma research unit. After her death, Hutchings said becoming a mother had always been her dream.
“Her dream was to become a Mum, so it’s been incredibly difficult to take,” he wrote. “Sofia and I love you and will miss you very much Hannah ❤️💔.”
Hutchings played 120 games for West Coast and was part of the club’s 2018 premiership team before retiring in 2021. He has since established a career in Perth real estate.
