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| Susan Taylor's coach pays tribute to swimmer after fatal cross-Channel bid | Susan Taylor's coach pays tribute to swimmer after fatal cross-Channel bid |
| (2 months later) | |
| The coach of a woman who died while attempting to swim the Channel has paid tribute to her as donations to her chosen charities reached £60,000. | The coach of a woman who died while attempting to swim the Channel has paid tribute to her as donations to her chosen charities reached £60,000. |
| Susan Taylor, 34, collapsed one mile from the French coast as she swam under the guidance of the Channel Swimming Association, which officially authorises attempts, on Sunday. | Susan Taylor, 34, collapsed one mile from the French coast as she swam under the guidance of the Channel Swimming Association, which officially authorises attempts, on Sunday. |
| She was pulled from the water and on to a support boat by her brother David, a paramedic, who battled to save her life before she was taken to hospital in nearby Boulogne-sur-Mer, where she was later pronounced dead. | She was pulled from the water and on to a support boat by her brother David, a paramedic, who battled to save her life before she was taken to hospital in nearby Boulogne-sur-Mer, where she was later pronounced dead. |
| Her husband, Stephen, had also been on board and had helped with chest compressions, said her swimming coach, Paul Farrier, who had known Taylor since she was a child. | Her husband, Stephen, had also been on board and had helped with chest compressions, said her swimming coach, Paul Farrier, who had known Taylor since she was a child. |
| In a press conference, part of which was broadcast by ITV News, he said: "As I watched her on Sunday morning as she set off on her journey, I saw what I knew back 30 years ago: I was going to help her achieve her amazing goal that she had set out on two years ago. | In a press conference, part of which was broadcast by ITV News, he said: "As I watched her on Sunday morning as she set off on her journey, I saw what I knew back 30 years ago: I was going to help her achieve her amazing goal that she had set out on two years ago. |
| "Her commitment to her training meant that she had put on hold her career as an accountant so that she could give, because this was what Susan was really about. | "Her commitment to her training meant that she had put on hold her career as an accountant so that she could give, because this was what Susan was really about. |
| "She was a natural giver. So when Susan approached me two years ago and asked me if I would be so kind as to help her on her journey – she told me that she was swimming for the Rainbows Hospice charity based in Loughborough, my home town – having taught children with severe learning difficulties myself for a short time, the answer was a no-brainer. | "She was a natural giver. So when Susan approached me two years ago and asked me if I would be so kind as to help her on her journey – she told me that she was swimming for the Rainbows Hospice charity based in Loughborough, my home town – having taught children with severe learning difficulties myself for a short time, the answer was a no-brainer. |
| "She then added Diabetes UK – again as a Type 2 diabetic myself, a no-brainer. On top of this, she endlessly worked as an ambassador for the Rainbows Hospice charity." | "She then added Diabetes UK – again as a Type 2 diabetic myself, a no-brainer. On top of this, she endlessly worked as an ambassador for the Rainbows Hospice charity." |
| As of Tuesday evening, donations to her two nominated charities were up to a total of £61,178, with £52,613.67 going to the hospice charity and £8,564.33 to Diabetes UK. | As of Tuesday evening, donations to her two nominated charities were up to a total of £61,178, with £52,613.67 going to the hospice charity and £8,564.33 to Diabetes UK. |
| Comedian David Walliams, who swam the Channel in 2006, is believed to be one of the thousands who have contributed. A donation of £1,000 was made under the name of the Little Britain star with the message: "Sending all my love to Susan's family and friends." | Comedian David Walliams, who swam the Channel in 2006, is believed to be one of the thousands who have contributed. A donation of £1,000 was made under the name of the Little Britain star with the message: "Sending all my love to Susan's family and friends." |
| Walliams tweeted later: "Despite the shock & sadness, it's good to see heroic Susan Taylor's charity total rising. Please give what you can …" | Walliams tweeted later: "Despite the shock & sadness, it's good to see heroic Susan Taylor's charity total rising. Please give what you can …" |
| The star also tweeted a link to the page, writing: "Susan Taylor's channel swim attempt very sadly ended in tragedy. This is her charity page if you want to donate …" | The star also tweeted a link to the page, writing: "Susan Taylor's channel swim attempt very sadly ended in tragedy. This is her charity page if you want to donate …" |
| Taylor had reportedly written in a blogpost about her ambition to follow in Walliams' footsteps by swimming the Channel. | Taylor had reportedly written in a blogpost about her ambition to follow in Walliams' footsteps by swimming the Channel. |
| "I've had an ambition to follow in comedian David Walliams's strokes and swim the Channel since I was a child," she wrote. | "I've had an ambition to follow in comedian David Walliams's strokes and swim the Channel since I was a child," she wrote. |
| Speaking from the family home in Barwell, Leicestershire, Arthur Wright, Taylor's father, said: "I'm devastated. I've lost the best person in the world. She was just wonderful." | Speaking from the family home in Barwell, Leicestershire, Arthur Wright, Taylor's father, said: "I'm devastated. I've lost the best person in the world. She was just wonderful." |
| A message posted by Taylor's brother on her Facebook page said: "Whilst attempting to swim the English Channel yesterday my sister, Susan, collapsed suddenly in the water. | A message posted by Taylor's brother on her Facebook page said: "Whilst attempting to swim the English Channel yesterday my sister, Susan, collapsed suddenly in the water. |
| "She was immediately recovered from the water and treated on the support boat. She was then airlifted by helicopter to a hospital in Boulogne. | "She was immediately recovered from the water and treated on the support boat. She was then airlifted by helicopter to a hospital in Boulogne. |
| "Susan tragically passed away. Thank you for your messages of support. Please respect the family's privacy whilst they come to terms with what has happened. | "Susan tragically passed away. Thank you for your messages of support. Please respect the family's privacy whilst they come to terms with what has happened. |
| "If you would like to leave a sign of respect please feel free to donate to her fundraising page." | "If you would like to leave a sign of respect please feel free to donate to her fundraising page." |
| Supporters who were following Taylor's progress through a tracker link on her Facebook page began to leave concerned messages when the updates stopped and the boat appeared to travel off course. | Supporters who were following Taylor's progress through a tracker link on her Facebook page began to leave concerned messages when the updates stopped and the boat appeared to travel off course. |
| Taylor had given up her full-time job to carry out charitable work and was working part-time as an accountant, her father said. She had also done wing-walking and a parachute jump, and was a qualified rally driver. | Taylor had given up her full-time job to carry out charitable work and was working part-time as an accountant, her father said. She had also done wing-walking and a parachute jump, and was a qualified rally driver. |
| Wright said he had been told the accident happened during the last leg of the swim, which Taylor had spent 18 months training for. | Wright said he had been told the accident happened during the last leg of the swim, which Taylor had spent 18 months training for. |
| Taylor was no stranger to the Channel having swum it last year as part of a relay team, according to the Leicester Mercury. Before her solo attempt she told the newspaper that her training had been delayed a little by a shoulder injury and that she had put herself "through hell" training over the last year. | Taylor was no stranger to the Channel having swum it last year as part of a relay team, according to the Leicester Mercury. Before her solo attempt she told the newspaper that her training had been delayed a little by a shoulder injury and that she had put herself "through hell" training over the last year. |
| A statement issued by Taylor's family through the Foreign Office thanked the public for their support, adding: "Susan was an experienced long-distance swimmer and had prepared tirelessly for the challenge. | A statement issued by Taylor's family through the Foreign Office thanked the public for their support, adding: "Susan was an experienced long-distance swimmer and had prepared tirelessly for the challenge. |
| "Susan's family are grateful for all the messages of support they have received but would now ask for privacy to come to terms with this tragic event. | "Susan's family are grateful for all the messages of support they have received but would now ask for privacy to come to terms with this tragic event. |
| "Susan took great pride in her fundraising for some amazing charities and we would like her sacrifice to be recognised in the only way she would have wanted". | "Susan took great pride in her fundraising for some amazing charities and we would like her sacrifice to be recognised in the only way she would have wanted". |
| The charities for which Taylor was raising money also paid tribute to her. | The charities for which Taylor was raising money also paid tribute to her. |
| Geoff Ellis, chief executive at Rainbows Hospice for Children and Young People, said: "Susan was a wonderful woman who would do anything for anybody. She has been a much loved ambassador at Rainbows for over two years, helping out at events and tirelessly fundraising for us. She was more than an ambassador; she was part of the Rainbows family." | Geoff Ellis, chief executive at Rainbows Hospice for Children and Young People, said: "Susan was a wonderful woman who would do anything for anybody. She has been a much loved ambassador at Rainbows for over two years, helping out at events and tirelessly fundraising for us. She was more than an ambassador; she was part of the Rainbows family." |
| Barbara Young, chief executive at Diabetes UK, said the charity was "extremely sad" to hear of Taylor's death and offered condolences and support to her family. | Barbara Young, chief executive at Diabetes UK, said the charity was "extremely sad" to hear of Taylor's death and offered condolences and support to her family. |
| Donations can be made here. | Donations can be made here. |
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