Pictured: British ballroom dancers hit by a 4X4 in Majorca
EXCLUSIVE Pictured: British ballroom dancers who were mown down by a 4X4 while on a winter break in Majorca – tributes to ‘beloved’ dental nurse killed in horror crash as her partner fights for his life
- Former dental nurse Jennifer Worth was today named as the woman who died
- Her partner James Lawrie-Ashton was also hit and remains in critical condition
- The driver of the 4×4 Opel Frontera that careered into them has been arrested
Two British holidaymakers who were mown down by a 4×4 while on a winter break to Majorca were a keen pair of ballroom dancers, MailOnline can reveal.
Former dental nurse Jennifer Worth was today named as the woman who lost her life in the horror crash on the Spanish island, while her partner James Lawrie-Ashton remains in intensive care in an island hospital.
The female driver of an Opel Frontera that careered into them as they waited to cross the road outside Palma Cathedral on December 21 was arrested on suspicion of manslaughter and reckless injury.
Claire and James Taplin, who run ballroom and Latin dance classes from a school based in Southampton where Jennifer practised, spoke of their devastation at her death in a message to students.
Former dental nurse Jennifer Worth lost her life in the horror crash, while her partner James Lawrie-Ashton remains in intensive care in an island hospital
A message posted online by CJ Dancing described her as a ‘beloved student and friend’.
The post read: ‘Jennifer was one of the most uplifting, vivacious, funny and charismatic souls you were ever likely to meet, and would light up any room.
‘We were utterly heartbroken to receive the news of her accident and we cannot think of a world without her in it.’
The ex-competitive ballroom dancers added in their tribute message: ‘Rest in peace sweet girl, dance with the angels, love you.’
Friend Judie Middlewick said: ‘I am still trying to come to terms with it, she has been completely on my mind since hearing the news.
‘Such a lovely and bubbly person. Going to miss your smiley face Jen. God bless and dance with the angels.’
Fellow dance student Ann Moore added: ‘Such sad news. I can’t really believe it. We will all miss her bright, sunny personality in our Thursday class.
‘Sincere condolences to James and her family.’
Gillian Klein said in a touching tribute: ‘I’m so upset by this sudden news. She was so so lovely. Condolences to her lovely partner and family. What a loss.’
The female driver of an Opel Frontera (pictured) that careered into the holidaymakers as they waited to cross the road outside Palma Cathedral on December 21 was arrested on suspicion of manslaughter and reckless injury
Jennifer, who had left dental nursing to become a successful self-employed businesswoman, ran a Southampton-based property management company with James but also specialised in email marketing.
The University of Plymouth graduate described her partner, who Spanish health sources say remains ‘serious’ in intensive care at Palma’s Son Espases Hospital, as a ‘childhood friend’ on the website of the company they founded.
The pair danced together at regional competitions and in her spare time keep-fit enthusiast Jennifer also enjoyed sailing and paddle boarding.
It is not known if Mr Lawrie-Ashton, whose sister-in-law is believed to work as a nurse at Southampton General Hospital, is well enough to have been made aware of his partner’s death.
Paramedics tried to revive her for nearly an hour following last month’s tragedy after discovering she had gone into cardiac arrest. She was declared dead at the scene around 7pm on December 21.
James was rushed ‘critically injured’ to Son Espases.
Witnesses said both victims were flung ‘high in the air’ and landed several feet down the road.
Paramedics and police officers work at the scene of the tragic incident which left Jennifer dead and her partner in critical condition
The holidaymakers were ran down as they tried to cross the road in front of a cathedral
Distressing footage taken at the scene showed paramedics practising CPR on the woman who was eventually declared dead while colleagues tended to the injured man a few metres further down the road by ambulances with their sirens flashing.
The unnamed female driver arrested, believed to be in her thirties, was released after being held for more than 12 hours by police pending an ongoing probe by a local court.
She hit the British pair as they waited on a pedestrian crossing regulated by traffic lights in the middle of a dual-carriageway.
Reports at the time said the 4×4 she was driving was her father-in-law’s and investigators were trying to establish whether one of her tyres punctured before or after she ploughed into the tourists. She was released from custody after passing drink and drug tests.
The Majorca crash happened days after a 50-year-old British woman died in hospital in Tenerife four days after being mown down by a hit-and-run driver in Tenerife.
Her 75-year-old mum was also injured but survived.
Court officials in Majorca could not be reached today for comment on how their investigation is developing, but it is thought there have been no significant updates in the past fortnight.
A well-placed local health source confirmed: ‘The British man taken to hospital critically injured after the accident remains serious in intensive care.’
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