'Really odd': Tragic new detail about death of Sam Newman's wife
Sam Newman reportedly tried to contact his wife before her death on Saturday night and was worried when she didn't reply.
The AFL champion found Amanda Brown unresponsive on the floor of their Docklands apartment after returning home from dinner with friends.
Brown was just 50.
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Veteran entertainment reporter Peter Ford has now provided more details about the night Brown died.
“He’d been out with a couple of friends just for a quick catch-up and some fish and chips on Saturday night," Ford said on Gareth Parker’s 6PR radio show on Tuesday.
"While he was out he was sending texts to Amanda and she wasn’t replying.
“He said to his friends, ‘That’s really odd she’s not replying.’ They said, ‘Don’t worry, she’s doing something.’
“He was getting concerned about it because that’s not how it worked normally with them.
“He got home and unfortunately found her on the floor, dead.”
A spokesperson for Ambulance Victoria said paramedics were called to the home after reports of a cardiac arrest at about 7.40pm on Saturday.
According to the Herald Sun, the report was described as a “medical condition”.
“I’m just devastated, I can’t say anything else,” Newman told the Herald Sun on Sunday.
Police said Ms Brown’s death was not being treated as suspicious.
“Police will prepare a report for the Coroner following the death of a 50-year-old woman in Docklands on Saturday May 1,” a Victoria Police spokesman said.
“The matter is not being treated as suspicious.”
Just dreadful news. Amanda had zero interest in being in the spotlight but simply content to let Sam have it all. Most of the public had no idea they’d been in a relationship for years before the marriage. https://t.co/Ry0RjPYH7A
— Peter Ford (@mrpford) May 2, 2021
Aussie sporting community rallies around Sam Newman
Newman and Brown had been in a relationship for nearly 20 years, but only married last November.
Support has been flooding in for Newman from around the Aussie sporting community.
“Our great friend and colleague, Sam Newman, 300 game superstar of the Geelong Football Club, came home from going out with a couple of friends yesterday and found his wonderful wife Amanda dead on the floor of his apartment,” Eddie McGuire said on Fox Footy.
“Sam, you know that we’re thinking of you, buddy.
“I spoke to him last night and, clearly devastated by the whole situation.
“Our thoughts with all the Newman and Amanda’s family, the Brown family as well.”
Tragic news. Amanda was only 50. Thoughts with Sam Newman. https://t.co/frKVPRIONP
— Rita Panahi (@RitaPanahi) May 2, 2021
I’m devastated for my friend Sam Newman. His wife Amanda was only 50 and that’s far too young. It’s been a very sad 24 hours hasn’t it? 😔
— Rebecca Maddern (@RebeccaMaddern9) May 2, 2021
Horrible news about Sam Newman’s wife Amanda. I don’t always agree with Sams views but I worked with him on 3AW for 5 yrs and I found him one of the most loyal,honest and generous people you could find. Condolences to all.
— Tony Shaw (@TonyShaw22) May 2, 2021
Newman’s friend and co-host of the 'You Cannot Be Serious Podcast' Don Scott said: “They’ve been together for 19 years and he depended on her a fair bit.
“He had a lot of feeling for her. What do you say? All you can do is be there.”
Fellow co-host Mike Sheahan added: “I feel really sad for him, they got married just before Christmas.
“He was happy and that’s not always something you’d associated with Sam.
“It’s just terrible to find her gone at 50. Sometimes it’s hard to comprehend that stuff.”
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