Tragic Death of BBC Presenter Following Canadian Holiday Crash
The Welsh broadcasting community is mourning the loss of BBC Radio Wales presenter Lynda Shahwan, who was found dead at her property mere days after being involved in a serious car crash during a family holiday in Canada.
An opening inquest at Pontypridd Coroner's Court heard that on July 15, the 53-year-old was a passenger in a vehicle with family members when it overturned in north Vancouver.
Hospital Treatment and Subsequent Discharge
Ms Shahwan, who lived on Heath Way in Cardiff, was rushed to Lions Gate Hospital in Vancouver. She sustained significant injuries, including a fractured rib, abdominal bruising, and a pneumothorax – a condition where air collects in the space around the lungs.
The court was told she was discharged from the hospital the following day, but her condition left her unfit to fly home to the UK.
A Tragic Discovery and Ongoing Inquest
Tragedy struck on July 19 when concerned family members, unable to contact her, discovered she had died at her property. It was a month later that she was formally identified by her husband.
A pathologist has stated the cause of death as a motor vehicle incident leading to peritonitis, a serious inflammation of the abdomen's lining. Coroner Alex Morse classified it as an "unnatural death" and adjourned the inquest to a later date, while offering his condolences to the family.
Ms Shahwan, born on September 3, 1971, in Caerphilly, was a mother-of-two and a cherished figure at BBC Radio Wales, where she worked for over 25 years. She was the creator of one of Wales' most popular podcasts, Terry Walton's podcast, which explores allotment life.
In a tribute, she was remembered for her "professionalism and easy going manner", and described as a "very special person". Carolyn Hitt, Head of Radio Wales, expressed the team's devastation, stating their hearts went out to Lynda's husband, Sharif, their two sons, and all her family and friends.
