A young woman who was killed in a cycling crash in Italy earlier today has been named as a leading scientist who helped steer Britain through the Covid crisis.
Susannah Boddie, 27, was lead health data scientist at 10 Downing Street and offered crucial advice to the government in its handling of the pandemic.
Ms Boddie, of Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire, was killed while cycling on a path in woods on the Brescia side of Lake Garda in Italy around 10am this morning.
She suffered fatal injuries after being thrown from her bike as she descended a steep downhill trail.
Her partner called paramedics who raced to the scene but despite attempts to revive her they were unable to save the woman, despite her safety helmet.
Susannah Boddie, 27, was lead health data scientist at 10 Downing Street and offered crucial advice to the government in its handling of the pandemic
Ms Boddie was killed while cycling on a path in woods on the Brescia side of Lake Garda in Italy around 10am this morning
Police pictured on the scene after a woman fell from a bike and died in Italy this morning
Her family stated: ‘Susannah lived life to the full and had achieved so much in her short life. She crammed in more into her life than you would have thought possible.
‘She was the loveliest, kindest person who always inspired and cared for others and was adored by all her many friends. She will leave the biggest hole in our family and that of Rob her much loved partner.
‘She was the most wonderful daughter, sister, grandaughter and friend you could ever wish for and her memory will continue to inspire us in all we do.’
A Downing Street spokeswoman added: ‘Susannah was an incredible scientist, an inspiring sportswoman, a loved and admired colleague and friend to those at No10 and many others within the civil service.
‘Our thoughts are with her family at this difficult time.’
Ms Boddie’s LinkedIn account shows she graduated from Cambridge University in 2018 with a degree in pharmacology, before studying for a masters’ in systems biology.
She began working as a data scientist in 2019 and joined Downing Street’s data science team in February 2021. She was promoted in December last year.
Susannah’s family said: ‘She was the most wonderful daughter, sister, granddaughter and friend you could ever wish for and her memory will continue to inspire us in all we do’
A source said Ms Boddie (pictured) and her partner had arrived in Italy last week and were due to return to the UK on Saturday from nearby Verona
Pictured: people attend the scene of the incident in Navazzo di Gargnano near Lake Garda
Despite wearing a crash helmet, the impact of her fall was ‘very violent’ and she died instantly, her husband witness to the fall.
An emergency helicopter was dispatched from Verona and hospitalised the woman’s 27-year-old husband, who was in a state of shock.
Ms Boddie was riding a ‘gravel bike’, capable of going off-road, on the track when she fell, Il Giorno reported.
A source said the couple had arrived last week and were due to return to the UK on Saturday from nearby Verona.
They added: ‘It’s a very steep trail and although the woman was wearing a helmet she was thrown quite violently and there was nothing that could be done.
‘It’s not a tarmacked road it’s a gravel track so it can be a bit tricky getting down there.’
Ms Boddie’s partner was taken to hospital and treated for shock while a helicopter that was dispatched to the scene was called back after it emerged she had passed away.
Ms Boddie was holidaying in Italy with her partner when tragedy struck earlier today
The woman was cycling on the Via Mezzane in Brescia, near Lake Garda (pictured)
File image shows an Italian air ambulance in June 2022. An emergency helicopter was dispatched from Verona but was unable to help the woman, who died on impact
A police spokesman told MailOnline: ‘I can confirm that a 27-year-old British woman has died after an accident while cycling near Lake Garda.
‘The circumstances are still being investigated and officers are preparing a report.
‘The woman’s partner raised the alarm and he was taken to hospital but was not injured although very shocked.
‘We are in the process of alerting the British authorities so next of kin can be informed.’
Guidebooks describe the mountain trails around Lake Garda as ‘stunningly beautiful’.
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