Father dies in river following daredevil bridge jump before grandmother, 70, is killed in crash on her way to identify his body

Published: 14:58, 23 July 2026 | Updated: 15:06, 23 July 2026 A family are reeling following a freak double tragedy which saw a father and grandmother die just hours apart in two separate accidents. Andrew Tinsley, a 46-year-old from West Derby in Merseyside, died after he jumped into a river in Llangollen, North Wales on Friday, July 11. The father-of-three was at a well-known bridge in the area which is a popular spot for daredevils. His family were notified of the heartbreaking news and were asked to travel 50 miles to identify the body at a mortuary in Wrexham.  Mr Tinsley's mother Carol set off to Wales with her three grandchildren, aged 17, 20 and 21, but tragedy struck again when their car was involved in a collision in Chester. The 70-year-old Ms Tinsley was sadly killed in the crash while her three grandchildren sustained injuries. Ms Tinsley's granddaughter and Mr Tinsley's niece Lisa was on the phone to one of her cousins at the time of the collision, which happened at 11.30pm. She said: 'I don't know what happened. All I know is she got in the car and set off, and the next thing we hear is there's been a tragic car accident. Andrew Tinsley with one of his sons. Mr Tinsley died after carrying out a daredevil jump off a bridge in Llangollen, North Wales on Friday, July 11 Pictured Carol Tinsley (right) with her niece Lisa. Just hour after her son died, Mrs Tinsley died in a car crash in a bizarre freak double tragedy  'I was on the phone to one of the kids, who was sitting in the back seat as the crash happened. It was just a scream and a rumble and crashing. We didn't know whether the phone had broken up - obviously it fell into place afterwards. 'The phone cut off and we were trying to ring and ring and ring and ring. Eventually we got through to my cousin and she was in the ambulance, and the paramedic took the phone off her and told me what had happened.' She described the tragedy as 'shocking' and like 'living in a movie'.  'I don't think our lives are ever going to be the same again. Within six hours, our family has been ripped apart,' the 42-year-old added. Lisa said her uncle, who was 'more like a brother' to her because of their close ages, was a regular visitor to Llangollen, and enjoyed swimming in the River Dee. She said: 'We don't really know what's happened yet. We're still waiting for that information. But as far as we know, he had cold water shock to the heart. They tried to start his heart again, but unfortunately he didn't make it.' An appeal from a family member said: 'When on the way to the Hospital they tragically got in a serious RTC, sadly our nan died at the scene my two cousins also had serious injuries, the other had with minor injuries. 'This has broken our family as my three cousins lived with our nan from very young, she was their guardian and now they lost our nan and their dad in same day. 'So they have been left with nothing and we really need help to raise funds for a double funeral to take some pressure and stress away from my cousins, 'They are recovering from their injuries and trying to process all this. ' North Wales Police said the circumstances surrounding the river death are still being investigated  The force said it will be working with local councils to highlight the dangers of jumping from Llangollen's 16th century bridge - described as 'a long-held summer tradition regarded as a dangerous rite of passage' in the market town. The Grade 1 listed bridge is among the seven wonders of Wales which attracts many visitors - and local schools are warned about the graduating tradition of leaping into the waters. Police rushed to the scene  at 8.16pm on Friday, July 11, after witnesses reporting seeing a man disappear after jumping from the bridge. Local people said a major emergency service response was launched with police, fire service and ambulance vehicles in the Denbighshire town. Inspector Joseph Dunn of the NWP Conwy & Denbigh Rural policing team said his thoughts are with the man's family and friends. He added: 'I would like to thank officers, our emergency service partners, and the assisting public for their response to this incident. 'As a policing team, we are aware of safety concerns locally regarding diving off the bridge. 'Whilst this is not a criminal offence, we will continue to work with Denbighshire County Council, Llangollen Town Council, and other partners to highlight the dangers to the general public, and officers will continue to advise and warn individuals intending to jump from the bridge of the dangers of doing so.' Successive heatwaves have brought huge crowds to Llangollen in the hope of cooling off next to the river Dee. The town's revamped Riverside area has been particularly popular.