A coroner has praised the selflessness of a charity fundraiser who collapsed and died as she neared the end of her attempt to swim the English Channel.
Susan Taylor was trying to fulfil a childhood ambition, as well as raising funds for a children’s hospice, when she was taken ill a mile off the French coast last July.
An inquest in Loughborough was told Mrs Taylor suffered an acute cardio-respiratory collapse despite being well-prepared for the cross-channel swim.
Recording a verdict of misadventure, the senior coroner for North Leicestershire, Trevor Kirkman, ruled that prolonged open sea swimming had caused the accountant’s death.
Paying a personal tribute to the vastly experienced swimmer, Mr Kirkman told her brother and parents: “I understand that Susan was undertaking this swim not simply for personal glory, if I can put it that way, but because of her love for other people, because of her desire to help other people.
“I am told she was a kind and caring person. She was very involved in work for charities and she has probably achieved far more in her life than many of us will ever hope to achieve.
“As a family you can be very proud of her. It’s tragic that her attempt, which was so very nearly successful, should end in this awful way.
