A British athlete has died trying to swim from Dover to Calais.
Nick Thomas was taking part in an attempt to run, cycle and swim from Marble Arch, central London, to the Arc de Triomphe in Paris when he got into trouble in the water near Calais, according to the event’s organisers, Enduroman.
— Enduroman Events (@EnduromanEvents)
August 27, 2016Nick Thomas is being treated at Calais hospital after passing out in the water. Please wait for an update.
— Enduroman Events (@EnduromanEvents)
August 28, 2016Our friend Nick Thomas left us whilst doing what he loved – he just kept going. He’ll always be a part of what we do and who we are.
Tributes were paid to the 45-year-old from the Shropshire town of Ellesmere, near the Welsh border.
Freddie Iron, who was joint-winner of the Channel 4 programme SAS: Who Dares Wins – which put civilians through a simulated special forces selection process, said he was “absolutely devastated” by the news.
“A true Enduroman great, training partner and friend … He will be sorely missed and his loss will he massively felt in the Enduroman community. Thoughts are with his family. Keep swimming my friend,” he wrote on Facebook.
— Matthew Clarke (@matthewcclarke)
August 28, 2016Rest In Peace @trismartnick and keep swimming beyond this lifetime and into eternity. #rip19
— Davey A (@Daffooo)
August 28, 2016. @trismartnick inspired + helped hundreds more – like me – to get into triathlon. Such a sad loss of a great bloke. https://t.co/imsBD889El
— Rowan Ardill (@irowanman)
August 28, 2016So incredibly sad to hear of the passing of @trismartnick. A huge inspiration of a man who died doing something he loved. RIP Nick
— Ironbudgie (@budjude17)
August 28, 2016Shocking news about @trismartnick and his channel crossing. A proper legend taken to soon, but doing something he loved. Gutted
— Mel Sykes (@nuddypants)
August 28, 2016@budjude17 @trismartnick Oh no! 😔 I saw a tweet that said he was struggling but didn’t realise he hadn’t made it. So sad
A spokesman for the governing body the Channel Swimming and Piloting Federation confirmed a man had died.
He said: “A swimmer was taken from the water less than a mile from the finish in France. There was an extremely experienced support team on board the support vessel. He was given CPR and taken to Calais where he was sadly pronounced dead.
“It is an extreme sport, we know the risks. He was doing what he loved doing. Our thoughts are with his family.”
According to the Shropshire Star, Thomas, a building contractor, had been swimming for 16 hours when he got into difficulties. Earlier tweets posted by Enduroman suggested that winds and the tides had made the the going particularly tough.
The Foreign Office confirmed it was “offering assistance to the family of a British national following his death in Calais, France”.
Dorset-based Enduroman said the event included an 87-mile run from London to the south coast and a 181-mile bicycle ride to Paris. In between, athletes must complete the Channel swim n temperatures of 16C (60F).
The company described the “extreme event” as being suitable only for “experienced ultra distance athletes”. Competitors pay £3,000 to take part.
Social media posts from Thomas suggested he had completed the event at least once before. He also competed in the Ironman Lanzarote event in the past, according to its organisers.
That event also includes swimming, running and cycling portions in the area of the island’s main tourist resort, with 40 qualifying slots for the Ironman world championships available to contestants.
