EXTREME FEAR: Influencer Dies After Refusing All Prenatal Care Over COVID Mandates
The tragedy surrounding the death of Australian wellness influencer Stacey Warnecke (nee Hatfield) is far worse than anyone imagined. The “low tox nutritionist” and “food content creator,” who amassed over , followers on her Natural Spoonfuls platform, died at age in September following a dangerous “freebirth”—a delivery without any medical professionals—at her Melbourne home.
But the real scandal, which emerged during a Victorian Coroners Court hearing in December , points to a terrifying motive behind the decision: Stacey allegedly refused all healthcare—including basic ultrasounds and obstetrics appointments—due to her deep concerns and opposition to Australia’s strict COVID- health mandates. Her personal, anti-mandate stance may have cost her life.
The court heard that Stacey died from a devastating postpartum hemorrhage, a complication that is typically managed in a hospital setting. Instead, she was allegedly assisted only by her husband, Nathan Warnecke, and a controversial, unregulated doula, raising major legal and ethical red flags about the days leading up to her death.
The Freebirth Nightmare: Unregistered Doula and a Blood-Soaked Struggle
The details revealed during the court hearing paint a chaotic and desperate picture inside the couple’s home. After Stacey delivered her son, Axel, her health spiraled rapidly. Lawyer Rachel Ellyard told the court that paramedics were called in the early hours of September , , finding Stacey in a grave state.
When paramedics arrived around : a.m. local time, the influencer’s health had deteriorated to the point where her coloring had turned yellow, and she was struggling desperately to breathe. She was immediately rushed to Frankston Hospital, where doctors launched a frantic attempt to save her life. She suffered multiple cardiac arrests and required an emergency hysterectomy.
In a shocking indictment of the severity of her condition, The Herald Sun reported that the hospital went through its entire supply of Stacey’s blood type while trying to manage the severe hemorrhage. Despite heroic medical efforts, Stacey succumbed to the complications.
Suspicious Cleanup: Doula Refused to Talk and Scrubbed the Scene
The investigation immediately zeroed in on the role of the uncertified birth assistant, Emily Lal. Lal, who bizarrely markets herself on social media as “The Authentic Birthkeeper,” was allegedly present during the “freebirth” but has since taken aggressive steps to avoid law enforcement.
While Nathan Warnecke gave a statement to police following his wife’s tragic passing, Lal declined to cooperate. Even more suspiciously, by the time police visited the Warnecke residence the day after Stacey’s death, the home had reportedly been “extensively cleaned” by Lal. This is a major red flag that points to a possible cover-up or an attempt to destroy evidence related to the chaotic home birth.
The Victoria’s Health Complaints Commissioner has since launched a separate investigation into Lal, confirming they are looking into allegations that she is “facilitating and/or participating in homebirths which may put both mothers and babies at risk.” Lal has been temporarily banned from providing any healthcare services while the investigation—and the coroner’s inquest—continue.
“This is a wake-up call for the wellness community. ‘Low tox’ doesn’t mean low medical care. That doula needs to be investigated immediately for her role in this tragedy. The ‘cleanup’ is so shady!” – @HealthScamWatch
Widower’s Heartbreak: Nathan’s Poignant Instagram Plea
In the wake of the tragedy, husband Nathan Warnecke shared a heartbreaking statement on Instagram, revealing the death came from “an unforeseen and extremely rare complication.” He praised his late wife as his “soul mate and best friend” and his “lighthouse in the storm.”
Nathan defended the hospital staff, noting they were “amazing and did the utmost to help, but ultimately nothing could be done despite their best efforts.” This suggests that by the time professional help was involved, it was far too late to reverse the fatal hemorrhage.
He spoke of his only solace: that Stacey was “the happiest [he’d] ever seen her” after giving birth to Axel. While a heartbreaking sentiment, this testimony sits in stark contrast to the coroner’s finding that Stacey’s anti-medical stance, fueled by COVID fears, created the conditions for the tragedy.
Massive Fundraiser and the Public Warning
The Warnecke family has rallied around Nathan and baby Axel, setting up a GoFundMe page created by Nathan’s uncle, Jon Downie, to cover funeral costs and the immense financial burden of single fatherhood. The fundraiser has already pulled in over $,, just shy of its goal, proving the public’s deep sympathy for the widower.
The Natural Spoonfuls account promoted the fund, pleading: “Nathan is stepping into fatherhood with unimaginable strength and grace.” But even amid the fundraising efforts, the Health Complaints Commissioner issued a chilling public warning: “Members of the public are encouraged not to engage with Ms. Lal in relation to the provision of general health services.”
This tragic death is a grim and potent reminder of the danger lurking within the fringe wellness world, where fear-based skepticism of modern medicine can lead to fatal consequences. With the next hearing scheduled for March , and police actively searching to interview the evasive Emily Lal, the world is waiting to find out who—if anyone—will be held legally responsible for this preventable death.
