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Woman abducted as baby in 1994 dies of cancer

PA Media/Nottinghamshire Police Mother Karen Humphries and baby Abbie at the Queen Medical Centre, in NottinghamPA Media/Nottinghamshire Police
Baby Abbie Humphries was snatched from her hospital cot when she was only three hours old

A woman who was abducted from a hospital as a baby when she was only three hours old has died at the age of 30.

In 1994, newborn Abbie Humphries was taken by a woman posing as a nurse from the maternity ward at the Queen's Medical Centre, in Nottingham, and found 16 days later after a national search.

In a social media post, husband Karl Sundgren - whom she married in 2017 - said she passed away peacefully on Sunday, four years after she was diagnosed with grade four brain cancer.

Paying tribute to her, he said: "Abbie was so strong and her infectious smile will forever remain in our hearts."

PA Media Roger and Karen Humphries reunited with baby Abbie in July 1994PA Media
Baby Abbie was reunited with her parents Roger and Karen Humphries, 16 days after she disappeared

Abbie reportedly did not know about her abduction until she moved house at the age of 10 and found press cuttings.

Police reportedly received a tip-off that former dental nurse Julie Kelley - aged 22 at the time - had been pregnant and told people she was expecting a boy, but came home with a baby girl.

Baby Abbie was found in a property in the Wollaton area of Nottingham, and reunited with her parents, Roger and Karen Humphries.

Kelley pleaded guilty to taking Abbie and was put on probation for three years and treated for a personality disorder.

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The family moved to New Zealand when Abbie was a child.

Doctors discovered a 5cm brain tumour in November 2020, when Abbie started getting headaches after her mother died of breast cancer.

Following her diagnosis, she told the Mail on Sunday: "There is no point feeling angry or blaming anything. We have just had a terrible amount of bad luck.

"I usually choose to look at the positive side of everything. It makes everyone feel better."

In the social media post after her death, Mr Sundgren wrote: "Our beautiful Abbie peacefully passed away yesterday, surrounded by loved ones.

"She fought so hard with so much strength and grace for over four years and can finally rest."

He said there would be a celebration of her life in Whenuapai, in Auckland, on Saturday.

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