Carol Tinsley died just half an hour away from the Welsh hospital where her son had died following a ‘tragic accident’Wesley Holmes Liverpool Echo reporter and Ellie Gosley Senior Reporter
16:42, 23 Jul 2026Updated 16:59, 23 Jul 2026
Carol Tinsley and her granddaughter Lisa(Image: family handout)
A tight-knit family was “ripped apart within six hours” after a beloved nan was killed in a crash while travelling to identify the body of her son.
Father-of-three Andrew Tinsley, 46, died in what was described as “a tragic accident” in the River Dee in Llangollen, Denbighshire, on July 10.
His mother Carol Tinsley, 70, his former partner, and children aged 21, 20, and 17 made the journey from West Derby to identify his body at Wrexham Maelor Hospital. For the biggest stories in Wales first sign up to our daily newsletter here
However as they passed through Chester, just 30 minutes from their destination, the vehicle the family was travelling in was involved in a serious collision – killing the grandmother-of-six at the scene.
Carol’s granddaughter and Andrew’s niece Lisa, 42, was speaking on the phone to one of her cousins at the moment of the devastating crash, which occurred at 11.30pm in Parkgate Road at the junction with Welsh Road.
Andrew Tinsley, 46, with his son(Image: family handout)
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.”
“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.
“It was unreal. It was like living in a movie. It was so shocking. I don’t think our lives are every going to be the same again. Within six hours our family has been ripped apart.”
Carol, a mum of two, was sadly pronounced dead at the scene of the car crash(Image: family handout)
North Wales Police said they were called to a bridge in Castle Street, Llangollen, at 8.16pm on Friday, July 10, following a report from witnesses.
After conducting searches in the River Dee a 46-year-old man, subsequently identified as Andrew, was recovered and transported to hospital in Wrexham where he died.
Lisa described her uncle, who was “more like a brother” to her due to their similar ages, as a regular visitor to Llangollen who loved swimming in the river, reports the Liverpool Echo.
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.”
Following Andrew’s sudden death his mother Carol was called to identify his body and set off with his ex-partner, son, and two daughters.
At 11.33pm the same evening Cheshire Police received reports of a serious collision between a grey Cupra Born and a black Kia Sportage in Parkgate Road.
Carol, who was a passenger in the Kia, suffered serious injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the Kia, along with two further passengers, suffered serious injuries and were rushed to hospital while a fourth passenger sustained minor injuries.
The driver of the Cupra was uninjured. No arrests have been made and investigations continue.
Lisa said: “We are just absolutely devastated and trying to process it all. We’re just now coming to the realisation, coming to the funeral arrangements, and trying to get things sorted.
“Carol was very outgoing, very social. She was very much a people person. She loved the Royal family, loved sitcoms, and she was so witty. She’s irreplaceable.
“Andrew was another strong character. He was very athletic, very sporty, very outgoing, and he was an amazing person.”
Lisa’s daughter Derrie has started an online fundraiser hoping to raise £8,000 for a double funeral for Carol and Andrew.
Derrie said: “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 the same day so they have been left with nothing.”
Lisa added: “She wants to take the stress away from the children because a double funeral is going to cost a lot of money as you can imagine. They’re still recovering from their injuries on top of that.
“It would mean that we would be able to grieve as a family without worrying and stressing. Being able to send them off with dignity and respect.
“Right now I think we’re all just a bit lost. But all I keep saying is as long as we’re here for each other as a family then we’ll be all right and the kids stay together.”
Derrie’s GoFundMe page, raising money for the funerals of Carol and Andrew, can be found here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/kids-lost-dad-and-nan-in-same-day.
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