BBC radio presenter Lynda Shahwan found dead in holiday apartment following horror car crash in Canada

Popular radio and podcast presenter Lynda Shahwan died just days after a car crash in which the car she was travelling in overturned. An inquest has heard the 53-year-old BBC host was found dead in her holiday apartment in July.

The shocking discovery came four days after Lynda and her family were involved in a car crash in Canada during a holiday in north America. The mum-of-two, from Heath, Cardiff, had worked for BBC Wales for more than 25 years and was travelling with her husband and two sons when the crash occurred on July 15, Pontypridd Coroner's Court was told.

After the crash, she was taken to Lions Gate Hospital in Vancouver with various injuries including a collapsed lung, fractured rib and abdominal bruising. She was allowed to leave the following day but was told she was not fit enough to fly home with the rest of the family. She was found dead at a holiday apartment on July 19 after her husband called police when he could not contact her.

A provisional cause of death was given as peritonitis, an infection of the abdomen's inner lining, after the crash. Coroner Andrew Morse later adjourned the hearing for a date to be fixed and passed on his condolences to Lynda's family.

Lynda was a popular figure in Wales, particularly through her work on the Plotcast - a gardening podcast - alongside Jeremy Vine show favourite, Terry Walton. After her death, Walton said: "My last two years of working with Lynda on the Plotcast were the most fulfilling and cherished broadcasting I have done.

"Our chemistry and her creative talent made every episode a gem of gardening knowledge. Such fun while still being very informative. Her professionalism and easy going manner made every recording a pleasure and brought the best out of us both. We became true friends and after recording we would both relax and discuss many aspects of life."

Head of Radio Wales, Carolyn Hitt, added: "Lynda was a very special person. Since she began her career with Radio Wales in 1999 she made a brilliant impact on the station, on and off air, working across almost all of our output. For several years, Lynda was Roy Noble's fellow presenter on his morning show, where he affectionately christened her The Lily from Caerphilly.

"More recently, Lynda was back in front of the mic once more, this time with Terry Walton, co-presenting and producing her fantastic passion project the Plotcast - just one of the many examples of her creativity and innovation. We are all devastated at Radio Wales at the sudden loss of our much-loved colleague and friend and our hearts go out to Lynda's husband Sharif - who is also a much-loved colleague - their two sons and all their family and friends."