Hero swimmer’s remains to return for burial

The widow of open-water swimmer Páraic Casey, whose body is expected to be flown home tomorrow, is taking “great comfort” from the surge in donations being made in his name.

A spokesperson for the family said Riana Parsons-Casey and her family and friends have been touched by how total strangers have given a small fortune to two charities out of respect for the Cork swimmer’s final act.

The 45-year-old suffered a heart attack just 1km away from Calais in France at 1.30am on Sunday.