A primary school teacher who died after a caesarean could have been saved if doctors had acted quicker, a court has heard.

Frances Cappuccini, 30, died after an operation to give birth to her second son, Giacomo, at Tunbridge Wells Hospital.

But anaesthetists caring for her failed to reintubate her quickly enough and she died after acid built up in her blood due to a lack of oxygen, Inner London Crown Court was told today.

Mrs Cappuccini, 30, who was affectionately known as 'Mrs Coffee' by her pupils at Offham Primary School in West Malling where she taught Year 1 for nine years, suffered a cardiac arrest and major blood loss within hours of the birth.

Consultant anaesthetist Dr Errol Cornish denies a charge of gross negligent manslaughter.

His junior colleague, Dr Nadeem Azeez, did not call for assistance when the situation began to spiral out of control in October, 2012, the court heard.

Dr Philip Hopkins, a fellow of the The Royal College of Anaesthetists and of the University of Leeds, told the jury that "grave failings" had taken place.

He said Dr Azeez had not carried out a pre-operation assessment and that there was no evidence he had physically examined Mrs Cappuccini or found out the degree of blood loss.

Jurors were also told that inadequate records were kept and she was not monitored correctly.

Prof Hopkins added: "In my opinion those failings fell below the standard that one would expect of an anaesthetist working in the labour ward.

"In my opinion those failings are negligent.

"If a consultant anaesthetist was present with Dr Azeez Mrs Cappuccini would not have died."

"He should have realised he needed assistance, the fact he didn't demonstrates that he shouldn't have been anaesthetising in the delivery suite."

At around 10am midwives first became unhappy when a tube to deliver fluid and bring Mrs Cappuccini round from the operation was not working as expected.

She was given fluid resuscitation via a drip from the end of the Caesarean section which was increased when she first had bleeding, the court heard.

A tube that was helping Mrs Cappuccini breathe was taken out at 12.15pm and a second one inserted by Dr Azeez.

But inadequate ventilation caused a build up of carbon dioxide and in turn, a cardiac arrest, the jury heard.

The court was told Dr Cornish arrived in the surgical room at around 1pm, when Mrs Cappuccini could still have been saved, but did not take over and ensure she was being adequately ventilated.

The court heard Dr Azeez, who received basic training at a university in Pakistan, was not qualified to that level to be at his post in 2008 when he began working at the trust.

The trial continues.