Susan Taylor: Donations Up After Swimmer Dies

Donations have poured in for a charity swimmer who died while attempting to cross the English Channel.

Susan Taylor, 34, collapsed just one mile from the French coast on Sunday and she was later pronounced dead in hospital.

Mrs Taylor was pulled from the water and on to a support boat by her brother David, a paramedic, who battled to save her.

Her husband, Stephen, was also on board as attempts were made to resuscitate his wife, her family said.

More than 2,000 people have now donated to Mrs Taylor's fundraising page as the current total raised soared to more than £40,000.

She had been attempting to raise money for Rainbows Hospice and Diabetes UK through her Facebook page Create A Ripple Channel Swim.

Comedian David Walliams - who swam the Channel in 2006 - is believed to have pledged £1,000 after a donation was made under his name.

Walliams swam the English Channel in 2006

"Sending all my love to Susan's family and friends," a message from Walliams said on the page. 

The Little Britain star tweeted later: "Despite the shock & sadness, it's good to see heroic Susan Taylor's charity total rising. Please give what you can."

Walliams 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."

Mrs Taylor had reportedly written in a blog post her ambition to follow in Walliams' footsteps by swimming the Channel.

"I've had an ambition to follow in comedian David Walliams' strokes and swim the Channel since I was a child," she wrote.

The charities which Mrs Taylor was raising money for also paid tribute to her.

Mrs Taylor collapsed a mile from the French coast

Geoff Ellis, chief executive at Rainbows Hospice, described her as a "wonderful woman".

"She has been a much loved ambassador at Rainbows for over two years, helping out at events and tirelessly fundraising for us," he said.

"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 Mrs Taylor's death and offered condolences and support to her family.

Speaking from the family home in Barwell, Leicestershire, Mrs Taylor's father said he was devastated.

"I've lost the best person in the world. She was just wonderful," Arthur Wright said.

The tracker map showing Mrs Taylor's progress stopped near the French coast

Mrs 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.

Mr Wright said he had been told the accident happened during the last leg of the swim, which Mrs Taylor had spent 18 months training for.

Supporters who were following Mrs 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.

Mrs Taylor's crossing was being overseen by the Channel Swimming Association, one of the two official British organisations that authorise the attempts.

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