‘Amazing’ swimmer passionate about sport

Exactly a week after Steve Redmond’s Oceans Seven world-record feat the country’s swimming fraternity is in mourning after another Corkman died while crossing the English Channel.

Páraic Casey, 45, lost his life after suffering a heart attack during his attempt to cross the 34km stretch of water, considered the “Mount Everest” of open water swimming.

He was undertaking the gruelling challenge to help raise funds for Marymount Hospice and the Society of St Vincent de Paul, whose spokesperson was “shocked and saddened” after learning the news.