Tragic: Susan Taylor who died as she tried to swim the English Channel for charity at a Christmas party with husband Stephen
The Tragic Passing of Susan Taylor
Susan Taylor has died in a charity swim attempt of the English Channel. During a charity event on Sunday evening the swimmer was said to have collapsed in the water, reports Sky News.
Every attempt was made to save her after the collapse, but all efforts failed. Ms. Taylor was a mere mile off of the coast of France when the incident happened.
Taylor had been attempting to raise money for Rainbows Hospice and Diabetes UK through her Facebook page Create A Ripple Channel Swim.
Friends and family are devastated by her passing, and remember her as a loving individual that gave of herself to others.
Speaking at the family home today, Mrs Taylor’s father, 68-year-old Arthur Wright, said: ‘I’m devastated. I’ve lost the best person in the world. She was just wonderful.’
Mr Wright said his daughter had also done wing-walking and a parachute jump, and was a qualified rally driver.
‘She was certainly not a boring accountant,’ he said.
Today, her brother wrote on the Facebook page: ‘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 air lifted by helicopter to a hospital in Boulogne.
‘Susan tragically passed away. Thank you for your messages of support. If you would like to leave a sign of respect please feel free to donate to her fund raising page.’
British by birth, married, and a competent accountant Ms Taylor filled her world with smiles and an energetic attitude. She will be sorely missed by all who knew and loved her.
Many who knew and loved her were shocked by the news, initially not believing that the worst had happened. After being air lifted to French hospitals Ms Taylor was officially announced dead and the news was posted to her friends and followers. The family has stated that her presence will be greatly missed and they pray that any and all individuals who care to show support for Susan leave messages and donations at her website.
Kevin Murphy, who is secretary of the other official body, the Channel Swimming and Piloting Federation (CS&PF), oversaw Mrs Taylor’s six-hour assessment swim – which everyone attempting to swim the Channel must undertake.
He told Sky News: “She was a very nice woman, a very good swimmer and we’re all very upset.
“I got to know her while overseeing her assessment swim. It is an extreme sport but has a safety record that is second to none among extreme sports. Both the official organisations work within the strictest of conditions in terms of safety.
“Susan has passed away doing something she loved and raising money for two fantastic causes. I would hope people recognise that and feel moved to donate money to those causes in her memory.”
He said the zig-zag pattern on the tracker charting her progress was normal and reflected the tidal flows that affect swimmers’ routes during the attempts.
Mrs Taylor is the eighth person to die while trying to swim the channel since the first recorded attempt in 1875.
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.”
Susan Taylor gave of herself throughout her life and died what she loved doing.
The tracker map showing Mrs Taylor’s progress stopped near the French coast
Mrs Taylor before starting her swim (pic: Create A Ripple Channel Swim)
SOurce:
English Channel Swimmer Died One Mile From Land
http://news.sky.com/story/1115926/british-woman-dies-swimming-english-channel
Husband was watching in horror from support boat as accountant wife, 34, died attempting to swim the Channel
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2363941/Susan-Taylor-death-Husband-Stephen-watches-horror-support-boat.html#ixzz2Z8bQfgEL