Ellesmere swimmer Nick Thomas dies in attempt to cross the English Channel
An Ellesmere man has died in an attempt to swim the English Channel.
Endurance athlete Nick Thomas, a veteran Ironman and Ultraman triathlete who was crowned Enduroman #19 in 2014, died at hospital in Calais after passing out in the water last night.
The 45-year-old building contractor was attempting a solo Channel swim as his latest challenge.
Enduroman Events tweeted:
Mr Thomas set off from Dover yesterday morning and had been swimming for about 16 hours when he got into difficulties and fell unconscious.
The Channel Swimming and Piloting Federation said Mr Thomas was pulled from the water onto an escort vessel anout 10 miles from the coast of Calais.
The crew attempted CPR and when the boat reached land Mr Thomas was taken to hospital.
This afternoon a Foreign Office spokesman said: "We are offering assistance to the family of a British national following his death in Calais, France."
Freddie Iron, joint winner of Channel 4's SAS: Who Dare Wins, posted on Facebook: "Absolutely devastated to hear that #19 Nick Thomas has tragically passed away on his solo channel swim attempt last night.
"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..."
Tributes were pouring in on Twitter to Mr Thomas, who tweeted as @trismartnick:
