Olympic swimmer Helen Good was tragically discovered lifeless by her four-year-old daughter who instructed her husband: ‘Daddy, I am unable to wake mummy up.’
The mother-of-two, 42, was unresponsive when her daughter Heidi tried to get in along with her at 4am throughout a household celebration within the Lake District.
The household have been at a big cottage on the banks of Lake Coniston and Helen had been paddle boarding at nightfall on Friday night time simply hours earlier than she died.
Her mom, Linda, instructed Mailonline: ‘Heidi had woken up within the night time and tried to get into mattress along with her. She stated to her daddy: ”Mummy will not get up”.
‘He stated: ”Oh she should be very drained Heidi – you return to mattress.” ‘He put the torch on and he stated later that when he appeared he may inform.’
Helen Good paddleboarding within the Lake District along with her daughter hours earlier than she was tragically discovered lifeless
The mother-of-two, 42, was unresponsive when her daughter Heidi tried to get in along with her at 4am throughout a household celebration within the Lake District
The previous athlete along with her husband Craig Good, who has stated that his spouse ‘beloved the college, employees, youngsters and oldsters a lot’ and was ‘so proud to achieve her aim of being headteacher’
Helen pictured exterior of her college Worsley Mesnes Group Major Faculty the place she was headteacher
Helen celebrates her win within the Ladies’s 200 Metres Backstroke, the place she broke the British document
Preventing again tears, Linda continued: ‘We’re simply in a lot shock. You soar from believing it to not believing it.
‘She had been paddle boarding a couple of hours earlier than and had by no means even been ailing aside from her knees swelling from swimming.’
‘We’re distraught. They do not know what it’s however they suppose it should have occurred shortly after she went to mattress. She simply died in her sleep.’
Helen had been for a morning swim at a rustic membership close to her house in Wigan on Friday earlier than they drove as much as Cumbria for her brother Robert’s fortieth birthday.
The previous Olympian had gone along with her husband, Heidi and younger son Stanley alongside along with her brother’s household, mom Linda and father John.
Talking on the household house in Wigan, Linda stated: ‘At midnight, she went to mattress telling me: ‘I am going to go to mattress now mum as I do know I will be woken at 6am by Heidi.
‘I simply wish to get some sleep in as I’ve had a protracted day.’
Linda added: ‘Robert woke us up at 4am and stated: ‘Mum, dad you could sustain – we expect Helen’s died.
‘We simply ran up and adopted up and there she was in mattress.
‘I touched her foot and she or he was chilly. I walked spherical and to the facet of her and she or he appeared asleep however you would inform she was gone.
‘I simply stated: ”Why could not it have been me.” I might have fortunately swapped locations along with her. That is not the way in which spherical it ought to have been. I simply thought, no no.’
Earlier, Helen’s father John paid a heartbreaking tribute to his daughter on Fb – sharing a photograph of him, his associate, Linda, and Helen smiling collectively in a household picture.
He wrote: ‘Helen was our satisfaction and pleasure… we’re so pleased with her… she lit up a room as quickly as she arrived.. Linda and I am unable to comprehend how she may simply merely fall asleep and never get up?! xx’
Helen was a world degree aggressive swimmer and backstroke specialist who gained a bronze medal on the 1998 Commonwealth Video games in Kuala Lumpur and silver medals on the World and European Championships.
After representing Nice Britain on the Sydney Olympic Video games in 2000, she determined to retire and turn out to be the headteacher of Worsley Mesnes Group Major Faculty on Clifton Road in Wigan.
John Don-Duncan paid tribute to his daughter on Fb – sharing a photograph of him, his associate, Linda, and Helen smiling collectively in a household picture
He wrote: ‘Helen was our satisfaction and pleasure… we’re so pleased with her… she lit up a room as quickly as she arrived.. Linda and I am unable to comprehend how she may simply merely fall asleep and never get up?! xx’
Helen died ‘immediately’ aged 42 after retiring from the game to turn out to be a headteacher
She swam on the Sydney Olympics in 2000 beneath her maiden identify Helen Don-Duncan
Helen’s husband, Craig Good, stated that his spouse ‘beloved the college, employees, youngsters and oldsters a lot’ and was ‘so proud to achieve her aim of being headteacher’.
In a tweet, Olympic medallist Sharron Davies additionally paid tribute, writing: ‘That is very unhappy information. At all times a pleasure to interview & at all times an enormous smile on her face. A Fierce competitor.’
Husband Mr Good added: ‘I bear in mind solely final week she stated her aim was to get the college to excellent and that she had the fitting employees to attain this! I hope you all continue to learn like champions.
‘Please study from this and stay your finest life, no regrets, take plenty of photographs, make recollections and maintain smiling similar to Helen at all times did!’
Others have described as an ‘inspiration to so many within the swimming world’ who was probably the most ‘superb individual’.
No additional particulars have been launched but concerning her demise.
Posting a press release on Fb Alison Halliwell, the college’s chair of governors, stated: ‘It’s with nice unhappiness and remorse that I’ve to announce the sudden demise of our beloved headteacher, Mrs Helen Good.
‘Our heart-felt condolences are despatched to Helen’s household at this very tough time. I do know this information will likely be a shock and trigger nice unhappiness to our neighborhood.
‘I wish to reassure you that the governors of Worsley Mesnes Faculty are working with the native authority and faculty to make sure that our youngsters, employees and oldsters will obtain the required assist within the coming weeks.
‘Additional data/updates will likely be issued as and when they’re accessible.’
Alongside successful quite a few medals all through her profession, Helen got here fifteenth within the 200m backstroke occasion on the 2000 Olympics.
She was additionally a taking part in member and integral a part of the Pemberton Outdated Wigan Band for greater than 30 years.
A few of Helen’s closest teammates within the pool additionally shared their recollections of their ‘inspirational, vibrant, blissful, gracious, humorous and sort’ pal they affectionally referred to as DD.
Helen’s husband has paid an emotional tribute to his spouse telling folks to ‘maintain smiling like Helen did’
Olympic medallist Sharron Davies (pictured) has led tributes to Workforce GB swimmer Helen Good after her ‘sudden’ demise aged 42
In a tweet, Ms Davies wrote: ‘That is very unhappy information. At all times a pleasure to interview & at all times an enormous smile on her face. A Fierce competitor.’
Rachael Ashcroft, who swam alongside Helen in Lancashire, English and British groups, stated she was fortunate sufficient to have referred to as Helen her pal for 32 years.
‘Helen was particular – the kind of individual you need your youngsters to develop as much as be like,’ she stated.
‘From the second I met her, aged 11 at Everton Park Sports activities Centre, I instantly favored her. I feel we bonded over our barely uncommon and distinctive surnames and, in fact, our love of swimming. I simply discovered her straightforward to be round, particularly once I was so nervous earlier than I competed.
‘Helen’s steely willpower and pure aggressive spirit at all times impressed me. We competed towards one another many occasions however in some way it at all times felt like we have been competing with one another, serving to one another alongside the way in which.
‘Her achievements of quite a few British information, British titles, European, Commonwealth, World medals and reaching her Olympic dream got here because of her self-discipline, dedication, dedication and perception in herself.
‘Regardless of her success, she was at all times humble and all the way down to earth and she or he at all times helped others who’d had a foul race or did not obtain what they wished to fairly than give attention to herself. I do know she picked me up a couple of occasions from bitter disappointment and made me smile.
‘I by no means heard a foul phrase uttered by anybody about Helen and the way may they. She was at all times form, considerate and taken care of everybody, particularly me.
‘The tip of Helen’s swimming profession didn’t see the tip of her focus and drive.
‘Helen at all times threw herself into all the pieces that she believed in – swimming educating and training, her excellent dedication to Pemberton Band, her profession as an excellent trainer and head trainer, sustaining her friendships and her many different pursuits.
Helen additionally went on to win various medals all through her profession
Helen dives on her technique to the quickest time within the heats of the 200m backstroke on the XVI Commonwealth Video games
Helen (proper) smiles alongside Australia’s Giaan Rooney after she set a brand new Commonwealth document for the ladies’s 100m backstroke
‘Her important focus, although, was her stunning household who she adored greater than something. They’re so very shut and all did a lot collectively. Her two little youngsters, Heidi and Stanley, and her husband, Craig, have been her satisfaction and pleasure and she or he was the very best mummy and spouse.
‘I’ll do all I can to guarantee that they know precisely why their mummy was so particular to everybody. Thanks, Helen, for at all times being there – I like you.’
World and Commonwealth champion backstroker Katy Sexton made her Olympic debut alongside Helen in Sydney.
Paying tribute to her, Katy stated: ‘I have been looking for the phrases to say about this however am so shocked by the information, I do not know what to say.
‘Helen was such a vibrant character, at all times blissful and an ideal pal and roommate.
‘She was such a devoted athlete and had a tremendous work ethic which she carried into her life exterior of sport.
‘She will likely be enormously missed and my largest sympathies go to her household.’
Nick Sellwood stated he was lucky to have coached Helen at membership degree and with nationwide groups.
He stated: ‘She was a really personable, hardworking and gifted particular person, who was a pleasure to have in any workforce setting.
‘She at all times made time for youthful swimmers within the group, sharing experiences and recommendation for his or her profit.
‘Anybody who got here into contact with Helen benefitted. A terrific loss.’
Karen Pickering, who gained 34 worldwide medals throughout her glittering profession, together with eight golds on the World Championships and Commonwealth Video games, fondly recalled Helen’s sense of humour.
Helen and Katy Sexton are interviewed after a race by tv
Helen (far proper) arrives with different members of the British swim workforce on the Gold Coast, Australia, for a pre Olympic coaching camp
She stated: ‘I used to be fortunate to be on groups with Helen or DD as she was identified. Helen was a fierce competitor, gritty in coaching however humble in her victories and medal successes.
‘I’ll bear in mind her most for her sense of humour, laughter and the smile that hardly ever left her face. Any lane or room was happier when she was in it.’
Sarah Worth – a Commonwealth champion within the 200m Backstroke at Manchester 2002 – additionally shared recollections of Helen, out and in of the water.
She stated: ‘Myself and Helen shared a really particular chapter of our lives – our ardour for swimming.
‘Swimming introduced us collectively, a northern lass and a southern woman that shared the identical love for swimming backstroke.
‘I’m so grateful for all of the recollections we had collectively travelling the world, the place we spent a lot time coaching and racing.
‘I had the utmost respect and admiration for DD as a swimmer and pal. Whether or not we have been racing, coaching or simply hanging out, she was so gracious in all she did and was extraordinarily humorous and sort.
‘She was a troublesome competitor within the pool in addition to probably the most caring pal out of it.
‘I bear in mind Helen most although as somebody who would at all times brighten a room when she walked in it and her infectious chortle would carry a smile to everybody.
‘It’s no shock that she went on from swimming to turn out to be a main college headteacher working with and galvanizing throughout her.
‘DD did at all times and can at all times have a really particular place in my coronary heart, as probably the most superb individual.’
Sarah Johnson skilled alongside Helen at St Helens between 1995 and 2000 and stated she had a big impact on so many individuals.
‘You’d discover Helen at all times with a smile on her face,’ stated Sarah. ‘Even throughout and after 40 x 100s backstroke!
From left to proper Sarah Worth, Katy Sexton, Helen and Joanna Fargus earlier than they competed within the Ladies’s 200m Backstroke
‘She was the individual that everybody appeared as much as on the membership. She was form and actually humorous – at all times eager to incorporate everybody and made the hours and hours of coaching week in, week out, rather more gratifying.
‘She skilled more durable than everybody and deserved all of her successes in swimming, however would have a lot enjoyable alongside the way in which – arduous to do once you’re taking a look at a black line or the ceiling for 25 hours per week.
‘We brought about a number of havoc for our coach, Ivor Tattum, who sadly died in 2004. We as soon as put all the cutlery from a desk in a restaurant in Canada in his coat pockets – he discovered them when he’d acquired again to the automotive, and needed to return all of it purple confronted.
‘Helen was actually a vibrant gentle within the swimming neighborhood within the North West – the influence she had on so many individuals has been immeasurable.’
A number of different folks posted on to Fb saying Helen was ‘so caring’ and ‘fantastic.
One individual wrote: ‘Devastating information. I’m grateful to have been taught by a beautiful trainer and a fantastic soul.’
Tyldesley Swimming & Water Polo Membership additionally paid tribute by saying: ‘Unhappy information over the weekend in regards to the sudden passing of Olympian Helen Good.
‘Helen was an inspiration to so many within the swimming world. Our ideas are with all of the Good/DonDuncan household right now.’
A spokesperson for Pemberton Outdated Wigan Band stated: ‘We’re all heartbroken and our love and ideas are with Craig and the youngsters.
‘Together with her enthusiasm and pleasure for taking part in, Helen was ecstatic when the band gained the Second Part North West Space title in 2022, adopted by an excellent runner-up end on the Nationwide Last and promotion to the First Part for the primary time within the band’s historical past.
‘Helen introduced her champion mindset and inspirational educating strategies to each rehearsal and thrived on creating the subsequent era of gamers.’