Postmortem to be carried out on channel swimmer

A postmortem is expected to be carried out in France today on the body of an Irishman who died while swimming the English channel.

Paraic Casey from Co. Cork was just over a kilometre from the French shoreline when he got took ill around 1.30am yesterday morning.

The 42-year-old's support team including his wife, Riana, brought him on board their escort boat, Pace Arrow, but efforts to resuscitate him failed.

In a statement his wife said he was an amazing, healthy, tough, loving person whose passion for swimming brought him to great places.

She has appealed for privacy during this difficult time.

Over €1,000 has been donated to the charity chosen by Casey following his death.

His "mycharity.ie" page - which is raising money for Marymount Hospice in Cork - has seen a surge in support following the tragedy.