A woman from Leicestershire has died while attempting to swim the English Channel for charity, the Foreign Office has said.
Susan Taylor, 34, from Barwell, was taking part in the challenge to raise money for Diabetes UK and Rainbows when she got into difficulty near the French coast at about 5.30pm yesterday.
She was swimming under the guidance of the Channel Swimming Association, which officially authorises attempts.
She was taken to hospital in Boulogne-sur-Mer where she was later pronounced dead, it has been reported.
A Foreign Office spokeswoman said: "We are aware of the death of a British national in Boulogne on July 14. We are in touch with the family and are providing consular assistance."
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 was totally dedicated to Rainbows, even taking time off from her career to devote more efforts to her fundraising. She was really looking forward to taking part in her createaripple.co.uk challenge and we are all so proud of what she achieved.
"All of the children, young people, families, staff and volunteers at Rainbows are devastated and our thoughts and prayers go out to her family. She will be sadly missed."
Scores of tributes and messages of condolence were being posted on Susan's Facebook site set up for the charity swim www.facebook.com/creataripplechannelswim
Zoe Knight posted "I am so sorry for your loss. My heart goes out to your family xx"
Sophie Sherwin said: "OMG Im so sorry to hear this!!!! Rest in peace Susan!! Such a brave wonderful woman! She was a great inspiration to us all! XxXx"
And John D Thomson posted: "Just read about this and it really upset me - RIP Susan - a brave hero - my thoughts are with all the family. God Bless."
Rebecca Adie-Drackley: "RIP Susan. Swimming was your life all through school from Barwell Infants we all grew up together. I am so sad I cannot think of any words at this time. God bless you, it was an honour to grow up with you xxx"
Confirming the tragic news, her sister posted on Susan's charity swim Twitter account @ripplesolutions "Whilst attempting to swim the English Channel yesterday my sister, Susan collapsed suddenly in the water.
And as soon as the news broke people took to Twitter to share tributes and messages of condolence.
Speaking to the Leicester Mercury earlier this year, as she prepared for her Channel swim, Susan said: "I did a relay last year and there were six of us taking it in turns. This time it's just me.
"I won't stop or be able to touch the support boat until I reach France, so it's not going to be easy."
Susan had been training for up to eight hours a day and had to cope with a shoulder injury during the build-up.
She said: "The injury won't put me back too much and I plan to be back in the lake in a few weeks time.
"It's a lot different in the Channel, though.
"You've got the waves and the salt water and it will be about twice as far as I've ever swam before."
The create a createaripple.co.uk challenge was supporting Rainbows Hospice and Diabetes UK. Susan had posted on her Diabetes UK and Rainbows fund-raising pages how tough the swim would be. She said: "I am to take on a challenge tougher than Everest in July 2013 - Swimming the English Channel solo.
"I am SELF FUNDING THE solo SWIM so every penny donated will go to Charity."
