Tributes to Channel swimmer

The coach of Susan Taylor, who died in a charity swim across the Channel, has said she was "always smiling". Susan got into difficulty whilst attempting the challenge in a bid to raise money for Rainbows Hospice and Diabetes UK.

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Coach: Susan died from 'total fatigue' in Channel swim

The coach who was with Susan Taylor when she died swimming the Channel, said that "total fatigue" was the cause.

She had been swimming for more than 16 hours, covering 30 miles, when she collapsed in the water.

Donations to the charities for which she was fundraising have passed £60,000.

ITV News correspondent Juliet Bremner reports:

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Donations for Channel swimmer charities hit £59,000

Susan Taylor has now raised more than £59,000 for Diabetes UK and Rainbows children's hospice Credit: Virgin Money

The charity donations for Susan Taylor, a swimmer who died while attempting to cross the English Channel, are now over £59,600.

Mrs Taylor was raising funds for Rainbows Children's Hospice and Diabetes UK.

Coach: Susan was a giver, helping her was a no-brainer

As he held back the tears, Susan Taylor's coach said she was a "natural giver", adding that the decision to help her had been a "no-brainer".

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 charity, the Rainbows Hospice charity based in Loughborough, my home town.

Having taught children with severe learning disabilities myself for a short time, the answer was a no-brainer.

– Susan Taylor's coach

Coach: 'Susan was always smiling and enthusiastic'

Coach of swimmer Susan Taylor. Credit: ITV News

The coach of Susan Taylor, who died in a charity swim across the Channel, said in a press conference that she was "always smiling".

He said: "Susan was always smiling and was fully enthusiastic, whilst never being a champion. I could always rely on her physical strength to give 150 percent.

"She was a very big team player."

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Channel swimmer charity funds top £47,000

The charity pages for Susan Taylor, a charity swimmer who died while attempting to cross the English Channel have now reached over £47,600.

Mrs Taylor was raising funds for Diabetes UK and Rainbows children's hospice.

Susan Taylor has now raised more than £47,000 for Diabetes UK and Rainbows children's hospice. Credit: Virgin Money

Donations have rocketed since news of Mrs Taylor's death.

See Susan Taylor's Virgin Money donation page here

Donations for dead charity swimmer pass £40,000

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

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.

More than 2,000 people have now donated to Mrs Taylor's fund-raising page as the current total raised soared to more than £42,500.

David Walliams: Susan's Channel attempt a 'tragedy'

David Walliams has tweeted about Susan Taylor's attempt to swim the English Channel describing her death as a "tragedy".

The comedian swam the Channel himself in 2006 raising hundreds of thousands of pounds for charity.

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