The National Maternity Hospital, Holles Street Source: Google Maps

THE NATIONAL MATERNITY Hospital at Holles Street in Dublin has launched an investigation into the death of a pregnant woman during emergency surgery in early May.

RTÉ new reports that the woman, 34-year-old Malak Thawley, was seven weeks into her first pregnancy when she died.

She is believed to have presented at Holles Street after it was discovered that her pregnancy was ectopic. In such pregnancies the embryo implants elsewhere than in a woman’s uterus.

Such a pregnancy is highly dangerous.

Mrs Thawley died on the 8 May following emergency surgery to deal with her pregnancy.

A full investigation is under way at the National Maternity Hospital at the behest of the master of the hospital Dr Rhona Mahony.

The death of Mrs Thawley is the first such maternal death for three years at the hospital.

Solicitor for Ms Thawley’s family Caoimhe Haughey told RTÉ News that the couple were “very much looking forward to this pregnancy”.

“I didn’t know her personally as I only got to know the family since this tragic event. I can tell you that she was a very beautiful girl and her and her husband Alan had been together for some time,” she said.

Ms Thawley’s husband Alan, who is American, is understood to be in the US at present with family.

A spokesperson for the hospital said that “we are not in a position to comment”.

“We can confirm there has been a maternal death in 2016 which has been referred to the coroner’s office,” they said.