Dad Andrew Tinsley dies in bridge jump then his mum Carol killed in car crash on way to identify son’s body

A family has been torn apart after a father-of-three died in a tragic bridge jump — before his mum was killed just hours later while travelling to identify his body.

Andrew Tinsley, 46, died after jumping from a historic bridge in Llangollen in North Wales on the afternoon of July 11.

Just hours later, his devastated mother Carol Tinsley, 70, hopped into a car with three of her grandchildren for the 80km trip to Wrexham Maelor Hospital to identify her son’s body.

They never made it. The car crashed, killing Ms Tinsley at the scene.

Her three grandchildren — aged 17, 20 and 21 — survived, with two suffering serious injuries.

The family’s nightmare unfolded in real time for Mr Tinsley’s niece Lisa, who was on the phone to one of her cousins when the crash happened.

“It was just a scream and a rumble and crashing,” the 42-year-old said. “The phone cut off and we kept ringing and ringing.

“Eventually a paramedic answered and told me what had happened.

“It was unreal. It was like living in a movie. Within six hours, our family has been ripped apart.”

Lisa said Mr Tinsley, who she described as being “more like a brother”, regularly visited Llangollen and loved swimming in the River Dee.

The family believes he may have suffered cold water shock after jumping into the river.

Emergency crews desperately tried to revive him but he could not be saved.

In an emotional fundraising appeal, relatives said the three young adults had lost both their father and grandmother who had raised them from a young age.

“They have been left with nothing,” the appeal said.

“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 are investigating the circumstances surrounding Mr Tinsley’s death and an inquest will be held.