A church treasurer was struck by a Volvo and killed after stepping into the road to take a floodlit picture of the I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! castle, an inquest heard.
Mother-of-two Sharn Iona Hughes, 58, travelled ten miles from her home to Gwrych Castle in Abergele, North Wales to see the lights on the set of the ITV show.
Mrs Hughes and her husband Elfyn pulled into a layby on the A547 – near to the castle lodge – to get the picture when a blue Volvo estate crashed into her.
She was pronounced dead at the scene on November 21.
Church treasurer Sharn Iona Hughes, 58, (pictured) was struck by a Volvo and killed after stepping into the road to take a floodlit picture of the I’m a Celebrity … Get Me Out of Here! castle , an inquest heard
The charity volunteer’s cause of death was given as ‘multiple traumatic injuries’, the hearing in Ruthin heard.
Coroner for North Wales East and Central John Gittins said a full investigation was being carried out by the North Wales Police forensic collision investigation unit.
The inquest was adjourned to a date to be fixed.
Mrs Hughes, whose occupation was given as a ‘self-employed branding ambassador’, was well-known and popular in the Prestatyn area.
Mrs Hughes, 58, travelled ten miles from her home to Gwrych Castle in Abergele, North Wales to see the lights on the set of the ITV show (pictured)
I’m A Celebrity was filmed in Wales this year due to the pandemic. Pictured are the show’s hosts Ant and Dec
Mrs Hughes (pictured) and her husband Elfyn pulled into a layby on the A547 – near to the castle lodge – to get the picture when a blue Volvo estate crashed into her
She was treasurer of St Melyd Church and was a member of Gwaenysgor Choir.
Commenting on her death, her family earlier said: ‘Her curiosity led to her wanting to see the lights at Gwrych Castle which unfortunately led to her untimely tragic death along a very busy road.
‘We are truly heartbroken. She was hoping to take a photo and send it to a friend. We know that several others will have done and plan to do the same.’
Mrs Hughes was described as a ‘devoted’ wife to husband Elfyn and ‘loving mother’ to children Arron and Annah.
The picturesque Grade I-listed Gwrych Castle was built in 1810 on the grounds of a medieval house and is spread across 250 acres of gardens and grounds.
It hosted the latest series of the show – which finished on Friday – after it was moved from its normal location of Dungay in Australia due to travel restrictions amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
Mrs Hughes travelled ten miles from her home to Gwrych Castle (pictured being set up for the show) in Abergele, North Wales to see the lights on the set
The scene of the fatal crash near the I’m A Celebrity castle on the A547 Abergele Road in North Wales
The charity volunteer’s cause of death was given as ‘multiple traumatic injuries’, the hearing in Ruthin heard. Pictured: Mrs Hughes
I’m A Celebrity was filmed at Gwrych Castle in Abergele, North Wales. The area has seen footpath closures and a 30mph speed limit introduced near to the entrance to the TV production site
The ten celebrities who took part in this year’s I’m A Celebrity included Olympic athlete Sir Mo Farah, 37, funnyman Shane Ritchie, 56, and Corrie legend Bev Callard, 63
Last week – just seven days after Mrs Hughes died – the body of a male cyclist was found in woodland near the Welsh castle.
The discovery was made on November 28 in woods in Abergele, less than a mile away from Gwrych Castle.
North Wales Police said there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding the death of the man who was found near Lady Emily’s Tower shortly before 11am.
Detectives, who were informed about the discovery by paramedics, carried out door-to-door enquiries after the man’s car was found parked in the area.
A North Wales Police spokesman said on Thursday: ‘We were notified at 10.57am on Saturday, November 28, by the Welsh Ambulance Service.
‘The body of a man, who we understand had been on a mountain bike in woods off the Abergele Road was discovered.
Last week – just seven days after Mrs Hughes died – the body of a male cyclist was found in woodland near the Welsh castle
The body was found near Lady Emily’s Tower in Abergele shortly before 11am on November 28
Police officers outside the woods near Gwrych Castle on November 28 where the body was found
‘He was pronounced dead at the scene. There are no suspicious circumstances and the coroner has been informed.’
A Welsh Ambulance Service spokesman said: ‘We were called on Saturday, November 28 at approximately 10.49am to reports of an incident in a woodland area of Abergele. We responded with two emergency ambulances.’
More than 40 security guards protected the campmates at Gwrych Castle with local roads, a campsite and a farm park near the site all closed.
Wardens in high-vis jackets were seen at the entrances sealed with wire fences as guards with a night-vision goggles patrolled inside the forest around the camp.