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Woman dies trying to defrost car

A woman died after becoming trapped underneath her car while attempting to defrost it, police said.

Andrea Southern was crushed under her Fiat Panda parked outside the detached home she shared with her husband John and two daughters.

The bizarre accident happened in Whickham Close, Widnes, Cheshire, at around 7am on Wednesday.

It is believed she was stuck for 30 minutes before being spotted by a neighbour who called an ambulance.

Mrs Southern, who was believed to be in her 30s, was taken to Whiston Hospital with serious injuries but died after 4.30pm.

Her husband is said to be too upset to talk and was being comforted by family and friends.

Mrs Southern's black Fiat Panda had been parked on the sloping driveway in front of the house but had since been removed for examination.

Joiner Ryan Gregson, 21, who lives across the road, witnessed paramedics battling to save Mrs Southern. He said: "It's an utter tragedy. She was a lovely woman, quite quiet and they had two young daughters."

Cheshire Police said: "Inquiries suggest she was defrosting her car when it is thought to have started and rolled backwards, dragging her under the front wheels. Police believe she was trapped for around half an hour before her neighbour found her."

"Police are appealing to anyone who was in the Whickham Close area of Widnes yesterday morning between around 6.15am and 7am to make contact with the officer investigating the incident, even if you feel you have seen nothing of relevance. This may help police piece together the sequence of events resulting in the woman's tragic death."