Tourist dies in Shannon toll-bridge accident

A 40-year-old woman on a Shannon cruise has died, shortly after being pinned between a boat and bridge at Portumna, Co Galway.

The woman was one of seven friends on holiday from London. The accident happened at about 5.30 p.m. on Thursday. It is believed the accident occurred when the woman stretched out from the boat to pay the toll at the bridge in Portumna. At some bridges the toll is paid to the bridge-keeper who holds out a net into which the fee is thrown.

The bridge is controlled by Duchas Waterways, part of the Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands, which is investigating the accident.

The victim was named as Ms Jo Crynjulac from Forest Glade in London. She was single and an accountant with the Australian Tourist Commission in London.

Her friends issued a statement saying that Ms Crynjulac was handing the toll to the bridge-keeper at Portumna when she was crushed between the boat and the bridge and then fell into the water. Ms Crynjulac was attended by first-aiders and a local doctor but she died shortly afterwards. She was taken to hospital in Ballinasloe where a post-mortem was carried out.

The group from London were on an Emerald Star cruiser, the largest cruise company on the Shannon. Their spokeswoman said only that an accident had occurred in which a woman was fatally injured and that the company was liaising with gardai. When the facts were known the company would issue a statement immediately, she added.