The 31-year-old from Northern Ireland sustained fatal injuries after falling onto the main Bangor to Belfast road – the same spot where two weeks earlier she had threatened to take her life.

But it is understood Cromie became depressed after losing the use of her legs after a fall while at university in Edinburgh several years ago.

Police were called to the Holywood Exchange flyover at 6.30am on Friday after reports she was in distress.

They closed the road and drafted in a trained negotiator, but it was too late.

She died near the Decathlon sports store which had recently selected her for sponsorship as part of its dedicated athlete programme.

Two weeks earlier she was involved in a similar incident, when emergency services spent eight hours persuading her not to jump off the same flyover.

Cromie had played wheelchair basketball and was a member of the British women's wheelchair team.

She·came into rowing through the GB Rowing's talent identification scheme after an introduction to the sport through·Helene Raynsford, another GB adaptive rower.

After being introduced to the sport, Cromie participated in the World Championships in 2006 and 2007, where she and crewmate James Roberts qualified for the 2008 Beijing Paralympics, where she was part of the mixed adaptive double scull which finished fifth.

"We have all been shocked at the news of the death of someone so young who had been an energetic and successful member of the team and we extend our condolences to her family at this sad time", said David Tanner, GB Rowing Team Performance Director.