An anonymous donor has pledged £300,000 to the two charities supported by tragic swimmer Susan Taylor.
Once bank checks have confirmed the donation to the Rainbows children's hospice and Diabetes UK, it will take the total raised by the heroic swimmer's efforts close to £400,000.
Susan, of Barwell, collapsed a mile off the French coast at 5.30pm on Sunday, after a 15-hour solo swim across the English Channel.
The 34-year-old, who was an ambassador for Loughborough charity Rainbows, had been determined to raise as much money as possible for her chosen charities.
A spokeswoman for Rainbows said Susan's family had been touched by the donations made in her memory following the tragedy.
"When Susan embarked on her challenge on Sunday, contributions on her Virgin Money page stood at £2,700," the Rainbows spokeswoman said. "Donations had rocketed to over £57,000. Rainbows has also been advised to expect a generous gift of £150,000 from an anonymous donor in the next few days.
"Susan's family are very touched by people's thoughtfulness and kind sentiments."
Paul Amadi, Diabetes UK's director of fundraising said: "To receive such a large donation from one person is absolutely amazing and we are extremely grateful.
"We wish the tragic events of Sunday hadn't happened, but this incredible gift and all the other donations are part of Susan Taylor's legacy and will go to help people with diabetes and the Rainbows Hospice."
Meanwhile, the last minutes of Susan's fight for life have been revealed by her coach, who was travelling on the support boat next to her.
Paul Ferrier said she told her husband, Stephen, who was also onboard, that she could not feel her legs, just minutes before she collapsed.
Mr Ferrier, 62, said he urged the swimmer, who he had coached since she was a youngster, to swim to the boat.
"From that moment on, she was coughing and choking and I told her to come to the boat," he said. "At my suggestion she had switched from freestyle to breaststroke and she did three more strokes before she collapsed.Susan's coach Paul Ferrier speaking at a press conference
"Jai Evans, one of the others on the support boat went straight overboard and we all helped her get onto the deck.
"Her brother David, who is a paramedic, immediately began trying to resuscitate her, helped by her husband.
"Although it was his sister, David acted with absolute professionalism. He shouted to the pilot to call for immediate medical assistance.
"After that, the French Coastguard came on board and a naval helicopter flew her to hospital."
Susan was flown to hospital in Boulogne-sur-Mer, but was declared dead at 7pm.
Mr Ferrier said she had been determined to finish the swim - and pick up a pebble from the French beach.
"She wanted her pebble," he said. "There are no medals - she wanted a pebble from a French beach, to put wherever. I don't know whether it was at Rainbows, but as family, as friends, we knew that was the goal, the simplicity of her reward."
Mr Ferrier, of Tamworth, said his lasting memory of Susan would always be of her smiling.
"All she said was that she couldn't feel her legs," he said. "She was swimming breaststroke, then she looked at us and smiled, at which point we thought she'd collected herself.
"There was no conversation from her so my lasting impression, no matter what happened afterwards, was her smile."
Mr Ferrier said Susan had been "on top form" when she set off at 2am on Sunday.
"She was very happy and looking forward to the challenge," he said. "The team spirit on the boat was very up.
"She would lie on her back kicking her legs while she took it. We were encouraging her by relaying the Tweets and Facebook messages of support we were getting.
"She complained of feeling cold, so the next feed we gave her warm squash, but she remained purposeful and motivated.
"Before she collapsed, she seemed to hit a wall - a bit like marathon runners do - and became heavily fatigued. It came over her very quickly."
See Susan Taylor's Channel Swim for Rainbows fundraising page HERE.
See Susan Taylor's channel swim for Diabetes UK page HERE.
