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Donations soar after swimmer Susan Taylor dies crossing English Channel Donations soar after swimmer Susan Taylor dies crossing English Channel
(2 months later)
Donations have poured in for a charity swimmer who died while attempting to cross the English Channel.Donations have poured in for a charity swimmer who died while attempting to cross the English Channel.
Susan Taylor, 34, collapsed a mile from the French coast on Sunday as she swam under the guidance of the Channel Swimming Association, which officially authorises attempts.Susan Taylor, 34, collapsed a mile from the French coast on Sunday as she swam under the guidance of the Channel Swimming Association, which officially authorises attempts.
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 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 Boulogne-sur-Mer, where she was later pronounced dead.
Her husband Stephen was also on board as attempts were made to resuscitate his wife, her family said.Her husband Stephen was also on board as attempts were made to resuscitate his wife, her family said.
More than 2,000 people have donated to Taylor's fundraising page as the total raised soared to more than £36,000.More than 2,000 people have donated to Taylor's fundraising page as the total raised soared to more than £36,000.
Comedian David Walliams – who swam the Channel in 2006 – is believed to have pledged £1,000 after a donation 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 have pledged £1,000 after a donation 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's footsteps by swimming the Channel.Taylor had reportedly written in a blogpost about her ambition to follow in Walliams's 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, revealed his son had battled to save her life and that her husband Stephen was also on the boat. He said: "David was with her and he was the paramedic, he tried to help. He pulled her on to the boat."Speaking from the family home in Barwell, Leicestershire, Arthur Wright, Taylor's father, revealed his son had battled to save her life and that her husband Stephen was also on the boat. He said: "David was with her and he was the paramedic, he tried to help. He pulled her on to the boat."
Wright, 68, added: "I'm devastated. I've lost the best person in the world. She was just wonderful."Wright, 68, added: "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. If you would like to leave a sign of respect please feel free to donate to her fundraising page.""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."
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.
Her father said he had been told about the accident during the last leg of the swim, which Taylor had spent 18 months training for. The family had celebrated Taylor's birthday and her brother's birthday at a restaurant last Thursday, he said. He last saw his daughter on Friday night.Her father said he had been told about the accident during the last leg of the swim, which Taylor had spent 18 months training for. The family had celebrated Taylor's birthday and her brother's birthday at a restaurant last Thursday, he said. He last saw his daughter on Friday night.
"I saw her to say I hope it goes well and gave her a kiss," Wright added."I saw her to say I hope it goes well and gave her a kiss," Wright added.
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 by a shoulder injury and that she had put herself "through hell" training over the past 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 by a shoulder injury and that she had put herself "through hell" training over the past 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, the 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, the 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.
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