BBC producer died of peritonitis after car crash, inquest told

Lynda Shahwan worked for Radio Wales for more than 25 years

An inquest has opened into the death of a BBC Radio Wales producer who died four days after being injured in a car crash on a family holiday in Canada.

Lynda Shahwan, 53, from Heath, Cardiff, died on 19 July following the incident in North Vancouver.

On Tuesday, the hearing at Pontypridd Coroner's Court was told Ms Shahwan was a passenger in a car that overturned on 15 July.

She was treated at Lions Gate Hospital for a fractured rib, abdominal bruising and a collapsed lung.

Ms Shahwan was unfit to fly and stayed in Canada while the rest of the family returned to Wales.

But when her husband, Sharif, was unable to contact her, he called the police and his wife was found dead.

A provisional cause of death was recorded as a motor vehicle incident and peritonitis.

Coroner Andrew Morse adjourned the inquest to a date to be fixed.

Lynda Shahwan created and co-presented Terry Walton's Plotcast

Ms Shahwan created and co-presented Terry Walton's Plotcast, a podcast exploring the joys of allotment life on a Rhondda hillside.

Mr Walton paid tribute following her death, and said: "The last years of working with Lynda on the Plotcast were the most fulfilling and cherished broadcasting I have done.

"Her professionalism and easy going manner made every recording a pleasure and brought the best out of us both."