British woman dies in Channel swim

Susan Taylor as she swam the English Channel.

A British woman has died trying to swim across the Channel between Britain and France over the weekend, police and the Foreign Office say.

Susan Taylor, who was reportedly in her 30s, died in hospital in Boulogne-sur-Mer on the northern French coast on Sunday night after trying to complete a charity challenge.

"We are aware of the death of a British national in Boulogne on July 14, 2013. We are providing consular assistance to the family at this difficult time," the Foreign Office said.

French authorities said the boat accompanying Taylor called coastguards and asked for a defibrillator.

A helicopter was dispatched to collect the swimmer and take her to hospital, where she died, the local maritime prefect's office said.

According to her online charity fundraising page, Taylor had raised almost STG3000 ($NZ5800) for the Rainbows children's hospice, and a further STG2200 for Diabetes UK.

Donations continued to pour in after her death.

- AP