The wife of a man who died today attempting to swim the Channel has paid tribute to him.

Paraic Casey, from Cork, Ireland, had been swimming for more than 16 hours and was only one kilometre from the French coast when he was taken ill.

The alarm was raised at 1.30am and attempts were made by the crew of the escort boat to revive him before a French rescue helicopter arrived with medics who tried further resuscitation, but without success.

Mr Casey was a member of the Sandycove Swimming Club in Cork, Ireland.

His wife Riana said: "Paraic was an amazing, healthy, tough, loving husband, friend, brother, uncle, son, nephew and cousin who's recent passion for swimming brought him to great places.

"I would like to thank everyone for their love and support. We ask that our privacy is respected during this difficult time."