A BBC Radio Wales presenter died from an infection after being discharged from hospital following a car crash in Canada. Lynda Shahwan, 53, was on a family holiday with her husband and two sons when their car overturned in a collision.
The family was taken to Lions Gate Hospital in Vancouver, where Shahwan was found to have a fractured rib, collapsed lung and abdominal bruising. She was discharged the next day, while her family flew home on July 18. Shahwan remained in Canada due to her injuries.
When her family could not contact her on July 19, Canadian authorities were alerted and she was found dead later that day. An inquest at Pontypridd Coroners’ Court heard that a post-mortem examination revealed she had developed peritonitis, an abdominal infection, likely from injuries sustained in the crash. The coroner ruled her death was due to infective complications of those injuries.
Tributes were paid by colleagues, including Carolyn Hitt, head of Radio Wales, who described Shahwan as a 'very special person' who made a 'brilliant impact' on the station. Co-presenter Terry Walton said working with her on the Plotcast was 'the most fulfilling and cherished broadcasting' he had done.
