Tragic Channel swimmer Nick Thomas warned of dangers ahead of attempt
Shropshire swimmer Nick Thomas, who died during an attempt to cross the English Channel on Sunday, had warned of the dangers of open water just days before his death.
Mr Thomas, from Ellesmere, died on his 45th birthday after getting into difficulties 16 hours into his swim.
The father-of-two had warned of the dangers in an interview just days before the attempt, in which he said swimming in open water was "totally different" to a swimming pool.
Ultra althlete Mr Thomas was pulled from the sea three-quarters-of-a-mile from the French coastline as he neared the end of the 21-mile endurance feat.
Before his latest challenge, Mr Thomas warned people to be careful while swimming in open water.
He said: "You'll get a nice, sunny day and the water looks inviting. We've had instances where people come in and they've swum in swimming pools all through the winter. They come to us in April and the beginning of May and the water is barely 11 or 12C. To most people that's like an ice bath.
"They obviously get into difficulties because the water is a lot colder than they were anticipating."
Mr Thomas had previously completed several Ironman triathlons and was only the 19th person to complete the Arch to Arc Enduroman challenge - from London's Marble Arch to the Arc de Triomphe in Paris - which included a Channel swim.
Friends and family said Nick was also someone who helped and encouraged everyone, particularly those struggling at the back.
Nick's wife Karen, son Ashley, 21, and daughter Sarah, 18, say they are being comforted by messages of support from the local community and sporting friends from across Europe.
Speaking for the family after his death, the swimmer's younger brother Lee, 43, said the family had "lost a devoted husband, father, son and brother". He said they were "devastated and shocked" by his death, which they said happened while doing something he loved.
Crew members from the support boat also paid tribute to Mr Thomas. Dan Earthquake said he had been coping well with the conditions in the channel and added that he "didn't go into it casually"
Mr Earthquake described him as the "measure that people should aspire to when training".
