Parents at center of Byron Bay ‘wild birth’ that resulted in death of twin babies share confronting message about tragedy

The parents at the center of a tragic ‘wild birth’ that left twins dead have shared a confronting message detailing their ordeal.

Heartbroken father and mother, Sally Patti and Thomas Townend, lost their twins, Dusty and Melvin, during a ‘free birth’ on February 11.

‘Free birth’ or ‘wild birth’ is a controversial practice where mothers and their babies forgo medical assistance completely during pregnancy – this includes ultrasounds, heart rate checks and hospital deliveries.

Police were called to the couple’s home in Mullumbimby, in the Byron Shire, northern NSW, at around 2am on Sunday, February 11, following concerns for the family’s welfare.

It is understood the couple did not know they were having twins, who were born prematurely at 23 weeks.

Ms. Patti shared a message online following the deaths of her babies.

“On the Aquarius new moon I gave birth to our twin sons,” she wrote.

‘Dusty came roaring and screaming into this world, so incredibly full of life, born with only Tom and I in the love of our home.

“I held him, cradled him against my chest, not quite believing that I had done it, I had delivered our boy in my complete sovereignty.

‘The most incredible experience of my life so far. This moment holds me together, this moment is my light in the darkness.’

She said her second son, Melvin, “was born shortly afterward, but had decided to leave this world possibly earlier today.”

‘I think I know the moment he died. “I looked up at the blue sky and felt a sense of peace, stars in my eyes and thought my birth would happen that night,” Ms. Patti said.

‘Melvin’s sole purpose was to keep his brother alive, they were both completely and totally dependent on each other to live.

“They shared the same placenta, they shared the same blood vessels, they chose to enter together and leave together.

“Melvin gave his life force so that Dusty could spend those moments in my arms, but when I gave birth to Melvin, Dusty had already decided that he could not live without his brother, physiologically or spiritually. They were supposed to be together, and they are.”

Ms Patti declined to comment and asked for privacy when contacted by Daily Mail Australia. She also disputed what had been reported about the deaths of her babies.

a GoFundMefounded by the couple’s friend, Roseanna Sharp, has raised more than $15,000 to help the parents “grieve.”

Roseanna Sharp called on the “community to preserve the passage through birth, death and grief” for the couple, who have been together since late 2019.

Remembering the tragic birth of the two boys, Mrs Sharp wrote: ‘On Sunday morning, the Aquarius new moon, Sally peacefully gave birth to her two twins in the waters of her home.

‘In all those waves of beauty, love, shock and heartbreak; those two spirit babies had no contract with the earth outside her womb and as she welcomed them, she said goodbye.”

Ms Sharp created the GoFundMe six days after the twins’ deaths.

“We are setting up this donation portal to share the weight and costs of the closing ceremony, funeral, various types of therapy for both Sally and Tom, medical bills, self-care, healing medications and a family outing to heal. ,’ she said.

“Grieving is a collective portal, it is an opportunity for us to show up and heal together as a community. We invite you all to be part of this and contribute where you can.

“Any donation appreciated to show your love and support for Sally and her family will be welcomed with gratitude and respect for our community.”

A medical source previously told the newspaper Daily telegram the babies’ deaths were “avoidable.”

‘At least the second one was born viable. If it was born in the hospital, it had a chance. That child had rights,” they said.

Wild births, also known as free births, are becoming increasingly popular among locals in Byron Bay – a region that has historically had a high rate of home births.

An Australian Facebook group for parents considering wild childbirth described itself as a “space for women joining unsupported pregnancy, birth and postpartum.”

“Support calls are very minimal and you will be supported through the birth on your terms,” it says.

Some wild birth followers believe that medical care during pregnancy, including ultrasounds, can hurt babies.

A police source described the twins’ deaths as ‘tragic because it was avoidable’.

No charges have been laid in the case and a NSW Police spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia that “a report for the information of the coroner is being prepared by investigators”.

Australia is one of the safest places in the world to give birth, but planned home births almost double the risk of serious problems for the baby, from five in a thousand in a hospital birth to nine in a thousand.

Due to the popularity of home births in the region, the NSW Local Health District offers a home birth service to ‘support the choice of planned midwife-assisted home birth as a safe choice for women with uncomplicated pregnancies’.

The Northern NSW Local Health District facilitated 23 planned home births in 2023.