swimmer dies after collapsing just a mile away from France

staff reporter(wp/es):
A man attempting to cross the English Channel has died just a mile short of reaching France, organisers have said.
The cross-channel swimmer, named in reports as Nick Thomas, 45, from Ellesmere in Shropshire, was pulled unconscious from the water as he neared the end of the 21-mile endurance feat.
A spokesman for the governing body, the Channel Swimming and Piloting Federation, confirmed a man had died.
He said: "A swimmer was taken from the water less than a mile from the finish in France.
"There was an extremely experienced support team on board the support vessel. He was given CPR and taken to Calais where he was sadly pronounced dead.
"It is an extreme sport, we know the risks. He was doing what he loved doing. Our thoughts are with his family."

M20 bridge collapse: motorway fully reopens to traffic after debris from footbridge is cleared

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The M20 has completely reopened to traffic more than 24 hours after a footbridge collapsed onto the carriageway.
The incident sparked hours of traffic chaos on one of the busiest weekends of the year, with queues impacting on London traffic.
Traffic can now use both carriageways of the M20 in Kent, Highways England said, after a stretch between junctions one and four was cleared following yesterday's accident, which saw the structure stuck by a digger being transported on the back of a lorry.
A precautionary 50mph limit is in place in both directions past the bridge.
The motorway reopened several hours later than planned.
 A motorcyclist in his 50s was taken to hospital in Tunbridge Wells with suspected broken ribs following the incident, while the driver of the lorry was treated for shock at the scene.

Catherine Brookes, of Highways England, said: "Safety is our top priority. While we concentrated on reopening the road as soon as possible to help drivers, it was imperative this was done safely.
"The 50mph speed limit is being introduced while until work to remove the rest of the footbridge is complete.
"We urge drivers to respect the limit for their safety and that of other road users, and thank them for their patience as we carried out this essential work."