The Channel swimming community has paid tribute to a 28-year-old athlete who has died suddenly.

Meg Forbes, from River near Dover, was the youngest swimmer to complete the crossing in 2007 and head girl at Dover Grammar School for Girls in 2008.

The Loughborough University graduate who had also completed an Ironman challenge had recently become engaged but died last week.

A tribute released on Deal Tri Club's website said: "It is with a heavy heart I share this very sad news of the tragic passing of Megan Forbes.

"Former member Megan Forbes, who some of you will know, was one of our younger members and was a fantastic swimmer as well as triathlete.

"Such a terrible loss and sincere condolences to her family."

The Channel Swimming & Piloting Federation has also released a statement.

It said: "Megan, from Dover, swam the channel in 2007 at the age of 16 in a time of 14:27 piloted by Lance Oram.

"She was a swimmer all her life and had wanted to swim the channel since she was 12.

"She had already completed one-way and two-way relay Channel swims with Eltham Swimming Club and for a number of years was Junior Champion of Champions in the British Long Distance Swimming Association event, which is held in Dover Harbour.

"Those who knew her described her as extremely hard working but also making time for play.

"She completed Ironman Wales in 2018 and visited 12 countries in one year.

"She will be missed by all who knew her."

Miss Forbes, born in Dover, had featured in our sister paper The Mercury throughout the years for her achievements.

She took up swimming at an early age, becoming the Junior Champion of Champions in the British Long Distance Swimming Association event which is held in Dover Harbour, in 2005 and 2006.

She made her first solo Channel swim in September 2007, aged 16 years two months and one day, having already taken part with the Eltham Swimming and Training Club in one-way and two-way relay swims.

She completed the endeavour in 14 hours 27 minutes, earning herself the the Audrey Scott Award for the youngest Channel swimmer of 2007.

The former River Primary School pupil also took part in the Boxing Day dips at Dover Harbour and competed in inter-schools competitions.

When she was 19, she and her Channel swimming relay team took on the Eggheads in the BBC Two general knowledge quiz.

She was a junior swim coach at Deal Tri Club and would teach at Dover Leisure Centre.

She also enjoyed drama and was a former member of Dover Youth Theatre.