Tragic last words of dad who died trying to cross Channel without a wetsuit as he saw French coast
Nick Thomas died on Saturday after attempting to swim the channel as part of a triathlon type competition
THE LAST words of the dad-of-two who died after attempting to swim the Channel were “Ooo la la” as he saw the French coast, it has emerged.
Nick Thomas, 45, was dragged from the water just a few hundred yards from Calais as he tried to accomplish the gruelling 21-mile challenge without a wetsuit.
The veteran triathlete, who set out from Dover just before 6am on Saturday, got into difficulty around 16 hours in.
But now it has been revealed his last words after spotting Cap Blanc Nez were: “Ooo la la” which was tweeted by Enduroman Events, who were following Nick’s swim.
After being pulled from the water, Nick, from Ellesmere, Shropshire, was rushed to Calais Hospital, where he later died.
His family have since paid tribute to him online, with his wife, Karen 46, captioning a picture of the two of them: “Can’t believe I am not going to see you again loved always xx”.
His son, Ashley, shared a link to an article involving his dad and simply wrote: “You’ll never be forgotten.”
The builder’s second child, Sarah, posted a picture of the pair and said: “My best friend and always will be.”
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After Enduroman Events revealed on Twitter, his last words, his daughter responded saying: “Just keep swimming dad you CAN do this!!!”
Nick decided against using a wetsuit as a Channel swim with one is not officially recognised.
He had previously taken part in an Enduroman Challenge, which involves an 87-mile run from London’s Marble Arch to Dover, then a cross-Channel swim.
The final leg is a 180-mile cycle from Calais to the Arc de Triomphe in Paris.
He completed the task in 80 hours and 50 minutes and on that occasion wore a wetsuit.
Vice Chairman of the Channel Swimming Association paid tribute to the athlete, adding: “The thoughts, prayers and condolences of the Board and members of the Channel Swimming Association are with the family of Nick Thomas, who sadly died making a Channel crossing with the CS&PF (Channel Swimming and Piloting Federation) on the 27th/28th August.
“We also wish to express our support for the CS&PF at this very sad time.”
Builder Nick, who successfully swam the Channel in 2014, set out from Dover on the second leg just before 6am on Saturday.
Nick was just three quarters of a mile from the French coast when he was pulled unconscious from the sea.
He had been in the water 16 hours when medics, on a support boat, attempted to revive him.
He was pronounced dead in a Calais hospital early yesterday.
