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| Record-breaking quadriplegic yachtswoman Hilary Lister dies | Record-breaking quadriplegic yachtswoman Hilary Lister dies |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Hilary Lister, the first quadriplegic person to sail across the English Channel, has died at the age of 46. | Hilary Lister, the first quadriplegic person to sail across the English Channel, has died at the age of 46. |
| Ms Lister, from Dunkirk in Kent, made the journey in 2005 using straws in her mouth to control her boat. | |
| She was also the first disabled woman to sail solo around Britain and set another record by crossing the Indian Ocean. | She was also the first disabled woman to sail solo around Britain and set another record by crossing the Indian Ocean. |
| Her stepson, Alex Lister, said: "She turned the suffering she was experiencing into an opportunity." | Her stepson, Alex Lister, said: "She turned the suffering she was experiencing into an opportunity." |
| A progressive neurological disorder, reflex sympathetic dystrophy, left Hilary in a wheelchair from the age of 15. Gradually she lost the use of all her body from the neck down. | A progressive neurological disorder, reflex sympathetic dystrophy, left Hilary in a wheelchair from the age of 15. Gradually she lost the use of all her body from the neck down. |
| 'Cloud nine' | 'Cloud nine' |
| Mr Lister said his stepmother never complained about "the bad luck she had been dealt" but instead "got out and did things that any able-bodied person would be incredibly proud of." | Mr Lister said his stepmother never complained about "the bad luck she had been dealt" but instead "got out and did things that any able-bodied person would be incredibly proud of." |
| In September 2003 she was taken sailing on a lake by a friend and fell in love with the sport. | In September 2003 she was taken sailing on a lake by a friend and fell in love with the sport. |
| Speaking to the BBC in 2014, she explained her love of the sport, saying: "It's just incredible, that feeling of utter freedom, the ability to move around and go where I want, when I want." | Speaking to the BBC in 2014, she explained her love of the sport, saying: "It's just incredible, that feeling of utter freedom, the ability to move around and go where I want, when I want." |
| Describing her trip across the Channel, Mr Lister said: "People thought she was nuts but she went out and did it and she was on cloud nine." | Describing her trip across the Channel, Mr Lister said: "People thought she was nuts but she went out and did it and she was on cloud nine." |
| He said Ms Lister had "not been well for a while" after the latest in a series of operations a few months ago. | He said Ms Lister had "not been well for a while" after the latest in a series of operations a few months ago. |
| He said her death "was an unexpected event [but] wasn't a massive surprise to her family." | He said her death "was an unexpected event [but] wasn't a massive surprise to her family." |
| He added: "That doesn't make it any easier for her mother, her brothers, all the people who loved her very dearly." | He added: "That doesn't make it any easier for her mother, her brothers, all the people who loved her very dearly." |
| Friends and admirers have taken to Twitter to pay tribute: | Friends and admirers have taken to Twitter to pay tribute: |