Melbourne Mother's 16-Year Fight for Answers in Daughter's Tragic Death
Sixteen years after Phoebe Handsjuk plunged 40 metres down a rubbish chute at a luxury Melbourne apartment tower, her mother Natalie Handsjuk still carries the pain of that day and the questions that remain unanswered. The 24-year-old's death in December 2010 was ruled an accident by the coroner, but her family has never accepted the official account.
What happened to Phoebe Handsjuk?
Phoebe Handsjuk died on December 2, 2010, after falling 12 storeys down a rubbish chute at the Balencea apartment building in Melbourne. Her body was discovered around 7.20pm by police. The blade of a garbage compactor had almost severed her right foot, and she bled to death in the refuse room, unable to call for help.
Coroner Peter White ruled out foul play and suicide, concluding that Phoebe was in a confused and drug-induced sleepwalking state. She had taken the sleeping pill Stilnox and had a blood alcohol reading of 0.16.
“Phoebe fought bravely but ultimately unsuccessfully, as she managed to get out of the rubbish bin and drag herself around the centrally located bin rotation device, towards the low-level illumination at the bottom of the refuse room door,” Coroner White said.
A mother's painful memory of the morgue
In an interview with news.com.au this week, Natalie Handsjuk described the “horrific” moment she and Phoebe's father were called to identify their daughter's body at the Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine in Southbank.
“We were standing there in disbelief looking at our dead daughter and were hurried along,” she said. “They said there had been an autopsy booked already and we said we knew nothing about that.”
The autopsy had been booked by Phoebe's then-partner, Antony Hampel, who was her senior next of kin due to their de facto relationship. Hampel was fully cleared by the coroner after denying any involvement in or knowledge of Phoebe's death.
Unanswered questions that persist
Natalie Handsjuk has challenged the official findings, pointing to several holes in the investigation. These include why blood found in the apartment was not DNA tested, why an ambulance officer was not allowed to touch Phoebe's body to determine time of death, why police initially assumed suicide, and how a heavily intoxicated young woman could have managed to enter the rubbish chute.
“Delusional or not, I don't think she was capable of that feat. When you're completely drunk and sedated, it's impossible,” Ms Handsjuk told news.com.au.
Remembering a daughter who would be 40
Phoebe would have turned 40 this year. Her mother describes her as “sensitive, playful, creative” and imagines what her life might have been.
“I like to think she would be a mother. I think she would've made a very good one. When I think about her now, when I see other 24-year-olds, I think that she was just a kid trying to find her way in the world,” Ms Handsjuk said.
She also reflected on the challenges her daughter faced, including substance abuse and difficult relationships. “She looked for love in the not-so-great places. I like to think she would've found a kind man. A man that would've treasured her.”
Lessons on personal responsibility and family values
This tragic case serves as a sobering reminder of the devastating consequences of substance abuse and the importance of strong family support. While the circumstances of Phoebe's death remain disputed, the pain of her loss is undeniable. Her mother's steadfast pursuit of truth over 16 years reflects the deep bond between parent and child, and the responsibility we all bear to seek justice for those who cannot speak for themselves.
The Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine has been contacted for comment regarding the morgue procedures described by Ms Handsjuk.