Bridge death is tragedy No2 for cop’s new fiancee
Jamie fall comes 6yrs after Andrew agony
A TRAGIC Scots cop who died after falling from a bridge had recently become engaged to his partner.
Jamie Lynch’s death is the second heartbreaking blow to his fiancee Laura McRonald, whose previous partner died suddenly in 2014 just weeks after they welcomed their first child.
Jamie was pulled from the water near Clackmannanshire Bridge on Sunday night but nothing could be done to save the 28-year-old, who was based at Govan, Glasgow. He is the fifth police officer to die suddenly in recent months.
Laura, 25, was devastated in June 2014 when her boyfriend Andrew Gallacher died shortly after he went missing from his home in Kilwinning, Ayrshire, leaving behind their four-month-old daughter.
A source said: “Jamie and Laura were due to get married this year. They got engaged in September last year and had a party. It’s a terrible tragedy for her as she lost her first partner in 2014.
“This is absolutely devastating for her and her little girl to lose another loved one in tragic circumstances.”
Police chiefs said the force had been “deeply saddened” by Jamie’s loss.
Emergency services were called amid reports of “concern for a person” at 9.30pm on Sunday. Police, fire crews, a coastguard helicopter and search teams were alerted but nothing could be done to save Jamie.
Police said: “The death is being treated as unexplained, although there are no suspicious circumstances.”
Tributes have been paid to Jamie by devastated friends and colleagues.
Andrew, an apprentice plumber, lived with Laura and their young daughter at his parents’ house. The couple had just received keys to their home when he died.
An appeal was made by Andrew’s family when he went missing but he was discovered dead days later.
Jamie’s death comes after four other cops died suddenly in three months.
PC Natalie Faulds, 25, was taken to hospital in Wishaw, Lanarkshire, earlier this month but died. The funeral of the officer, who was based at Glasgow’s Baird Street, took place in Wishaw yesterday.
In December, Detective Constable Gordon Gibson, 42, took his own life at Greenock Police Station. And in October last year, Martin Mooney, who was based in Stirling, was struck by a train.
Another officer who was based in the west of Scotland also died suddenly in December last year. None of the deaths are believed to be suspicious.