Channel Swimming - Fatalities
Like any extreme sport, Channel swimming has risks attached to it, and over the years six swimmers have died while attempting the swim.
Rodriguez de Lara - 1926
Rodriguez de Lara, from Spain, was believed to have become the first person to drown while making a Channel swim attempt.
Edward J May - 8 September 1954
Lone Englishman Edward J May is reported to have set off from Cap Gris Nez to swim to England, but without a pilot boat and against official advice. His body was found weeks later washed up in Holland.
Kumar Anandan - 1984
Sri Lankan swimmer Kumar Anandan, 36, died while making his attempt. At the subsequent inquest, Coroner Richard Sturt recommended that anyone making an attempt to swim the Channel should produce a fitness certificate. Since then all swimmers have been told they must produce a medical certificate.
Renata Agondi - 23 August 1988
Brazilian swimmer Renata Agondi, 25, from San Paulo, died about eight miles off the French coast while swimming from Dover. There had been a dispute on board the escort ship about who had the final responsibility for ending a swim. As a result, guidelines were drawn up setting down a chain of command, ensuring that the pilot was the person who made the final decision about whether a swimmer should remain in the water.
Fausta Marin Moreno - 20 August 1999
Mexican swimmer Fausta Marin Moreno drowned during a swim from England to France.
Ueli Staub - 11 August 2001
Swiss swimmer Ueli Staub, 37, disappeared from view when he was about a mile off the French coast having swum for 16 hours from Dover. His body was found six days later, in the sea near Ostende.
Rodriguez de Lara - 1926
Rodriguez de Lara, from Spain, was believed to have become the first person to drown while making a Channel swim attempt.
Edward J May - 8 September 1954
Lone Englishman Edward J May is reported to have set off from Cap Gris Nez to swim to England, but without a pilot boat and against official advice. His body was found weeks later washed up in Holland.
Kumar Anandan - 1984
Sri Lankan swimmer Kumar Anandan, 36, died while making his attempt. At the subsequent inquest, Coroner Richard Sturt recommended that anyone making an attempt to swim the Channel should produce a fitness certificate. Since then all swimmers have been told they must produce a medical certificate.
Renata Agondi - 23 August 1988
Brazilian swimmer Renata Agondi, 25, from San Paulo, died about eight miles off the French coast while swimming from Dover. There had been a dispute on board the escort ship about who had the final responsibility for ending a swim. As a result, guidelines were drawn up setting down a chain of command, ensuring that the pilot was the person who made the final decision about whether a swimmer should remain in the water.
Fausta Marin Moreno - 20 August 1999
Mexican swimmer Fausta Marin Moreno drowned during a swim from England to France.
Ueli Staub - 11 August 2001
Swiss swimmer Ueli Staub, 37, disappeared from view when he was about a mile off the French coast having swum for 16 hours from Dover. His body was found six days later, in the sea near Ostende.
