Swimmer Dies in English Channel

A 41-year-old Mexican woman died Friday while trying to swim across the English Channel, coast guard officials said.

The woman, who was not identified, got into trouble about eight miles off the coast of Dover--more than a third of the way into the 21-mile crossing to France. The crew of the Channel Swimming Assn.’s boat, which was escorting the swimmer across the channel, made the call for help.

Ted Ingham, watch officer for the Dover coast guard, said, “Dover lifeboat got to her in 20 minutes and brought her back to shore.”

But attempts by the lifeboat crew and paramedics to revive the swimmer failed, and the woman, who was about six hours into the crossing, was pronounced dead.