Tributes paid after Olympic swim hopeful Chloe Waddell dies

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-21357627

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Tributes have been paid to a talented teenage swimmer who died after going into cardiac arrest at her Greater Manchester home.

Chloe Waddell, 16, showed "excellent potential" and was aiming for the Rio 2016 Olympics, coaches said.

She was found unconscious by her parents, who tried to revive her, at their Timperley home on Sunday morning.

Police said the cause of death was not yet known but there are not believed to be any suspicious circumstances.

Double world open-water swimming champion Keri-Anne Payne wrote on social networking site Twitter: "Such sad news about Swim Trafford swimmer Chloe Waddell, who passed away on Sunday. Thoughts are with her family & friends".

'Always smiling'

Miss Waddell, a member of both the Swim Trafford and Altrincham Swimming Club, had competed in the Olympic trials against Rebecca Adlington and swum at the National and British Championships in the 200m, 400m, 800m Freestyle & Open Water events.

She had also been selected to attend British Swimming talent camps including an open water development camp last year.

On Saturday evening she had attended an awards ceremony where she was presented with an Outstanding Achievement Award.

Parents David and Fiona described their daughter as "outgoing", "popular" and "always smiling".

In a statement they added: "She was charming and polite, accepting and encouraging.

"She worked incredibly hard. She loved swimming, she was very focused on it and she wanted to go as far as she could. We are very proud of her."

'Sorely missed'

Swim Trafford's head performance coach James Stannard said he was "deeply saddened and shocked" by her death, adding: "As a small squad, this news has rocked us".

Mark Perry of British Swimming, said Miss Waddell "showed excellent potential".

He said she "will be missed by all" and her death is a "sad time for the swimming community".

Mark Rose, the City of Manchester Aquatics team head coach, said: "Chloe swam at the Manchester Beacon and was a hard working, self motivated individual who always walked in with a smile on her face.

"She will be sorely missed and all of us here at Manchester have her family and her team mates in our thoughts."

Det Insp Debbie Oakes said: "We are working very closely with HM Coroner and the family to keep them fully informed as the investigation progresses."