Found Deceased UK - Iain Hughes, 42, missing whilst swimming for charity across the English Channel, 20 June 2023

[StillDiggin]

A firefighter has gone missing while on a charity swim across the English Channel, it has been confirmed.
Iain Hughes, from Dudley, started the solo challenge with a support boat on Tuesday from Dover before disappearing.
Mr Hughes, 42, remains missing despite a search involving military helicopters and navy and police boats.
Based at Wednesbury fire station, he posted on social media two weeks ago that the swim had been delayed because of bad weather.
In a statement, West Midlands Fire Service said: "We are heartbroken to confirm that one of our crew managers, Iain Hughes, is missing after his inspiring attempt to swim the English Channel for charity."
Mr Hughes, a married father-of-two who has been with the fire service since the age of 19, currently works in its technical rescue unit.

Charity swimmer Iain Hughes missing in English Channel

Iain Hughes, 42, has not been seen after starting the swimming challenge on Tuesday.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[KooshBall]

The support boat didn't see him go under? I'm assuming it follows next to him, but maybe not.

 

[tarabull]

Search for firefighter Iain Hughes, missing in English Channel during charity swim, called off

A search involving French and Belgian military helicopters, plus navy and police patrol boats, was launched but has now finished, French authorities say.

news.sky.com

Hunt called off for missing firefighter Iain Hughes, who vanished while swimming the English Channel for charity

The search for a firefighter who went missing while trying to swim across the English Channel has been called off.

www.lbc.co.uk

 

[devertere]

Oh no, that's so sad. His poor family...

 

[StillDiggin]

Pictured: Firefighter missing in English Channel during charity swim

The 42-year-old father-of-two was aiming to raise £21,000 for the British Heart Foundation, Firefighters Charity, and Midlands Air Ambulance - representing £1,000 for each mile of his swim.

www.dailymail.co.uk

 

[akazia1978]

The support boat didn't see him go under? I'm assuming it follows next to him, but maybe not.

I'm sure they did, I'm a ultra swimmer (23 miles plus etc). The thing is you can go under quickly and not enough time for the boat to reach you...you can usually be 25 meters plus away from the boat. I was following his swim on the tracker and was wondering what happened as we all watched the boat retrace, and not in a normal turnaround pattern. If it was sudden, like stroke or heart attack he could be gone in seconds sadly. At least he passed doing what he loved.

 

[StillDiggin]

Missing channel swimmer's fundraising appeal smashes target

Firefighter Iain Hughes went missing while trying to swim the English Channel for charity.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[whatsnext]

So sad, my heart goes out to his family and friends

 

[StillDiggin]

Iain Hughes: Missing swimmer 'was close to pilot vessel'

Firefighter Iain Hughes was swimming the English Channel for charity when he went missing on 20 June.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[Facinatingtimes]

So sad for his family, friends and colleagues. Wonderful to to see the fundraising continue as a way of honoring him.

 

[TootsieFootsie]

Firefighter's body found after he vanished while swimming Channel in June

A BODY of a missing firefighter who disappeared on a solo charity swim across the English Channel has been found. Iain Hughes, 42, had set out on his “inspirational” solo challenge from…

www.thesun.co.uk

 

[StillDiggin]

Iain Hughes: Coroner wants clarity on aborting Channel swims

Call made to review guidance and communication around the swimming challenge after a man drowned.

www.bbc.co.uk