What Was Helen Smarts Cause of Death?

What was Helen Smart’s cause of death? The Olympic swimmer turned headteacher died in her sleep at Forty two years old in August 2023.

Jamie Lerner - Author

It's all the time scary when any individual like an Olympic athlete, intended to be the epitome of well being, passes away too young. On Aug. 16, 2023, the sector learned that Olympic swimmer Helen Smart died a few days previous in her sleep at 42 years previous. She competed below the name Helen Don-Duncan, her maiden identify, within the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia.

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In the early hours of Aug. 12, 2023, Helen’s 4-year-old daughter, Heidi, discovered Helen unresponsive all over a family vacation. The family has since paid tribute on social media, where Helen’s friends and lovers have shared their own condolences en masse. But how did Helen die — what was her cause of death?

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Olympic swimmer Helen Smart’s (née Don-Duncan) cause of death is recently unknown.

News of Helen’s death rocked the world because it’s virtually unheard of for a wholesome 42-year-old to die of their sleep. Even more tragically, Helen was first found by means of Heidi when Heidi sought after to crawl into mattress together with her mom at Four a.m. at the circle of relatives holiday.

Helen’s mom, Linda, informed Mailonline, “Heidi had woken up in the night time and attempted to get into mattress with her. She mentioned to her daddy, ‘Mummy may not get up.’ He stated, ‘Oh she will have to be very tired Heidi—you return to mattress.’ He put the [flashlight] on and he said later that after he seemed he could tell.”

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“We are simply in such a lot surprise,” she continued. “You jump from believing it to not believing it. She were paddle boarding a couple of hours earlier than and had by no means even been ill excluding her knees swelling from swimming. We're distraught. They don't know what it is but they believe it must have happened in a while after she went to bed. She just died in her sleep.”

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Linda shared the horrific tale of what came about throughout the night time. “At midnight, she went to bed telling me, ‘I'll move to mattress now mum as I do know I'll be woken at 6 a.m. by means of Heidi. I simply want to get some sleep in as I've had a long day.' The family had all been together in Cumbria celebrating her brother Robert’s 40th birthday.

“Robert woke us up at 4 a.m. and stated, 'Mum, Dad you need to keep up—we expect Helen's died,’” Linda recounted. “We simply ran up and followed up and there she was in mattress. I touched her foot and she was cold. I walked spherical and to the aspect of her and she appeared asleep however you need to tell she was gone.” It’s unclear as to what happened to Helen and what her cause of death was, pending an post-mortem.

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Family, buddies, and scholars are paying tribute to Helen after hearing of her death.

Helen entered the general public eye in 2000 after competing in the Summer Olympics. She represented Great Britain and got here in fifteenth in the women’s 200-meter backstroke. While she didn’t position within the Top 3 right through the Olympics, she earned silver medals on the 1998 and 1999 European and World Championships, respectively.

After retiring from swimming, Helen become the headteacher of Worsley Mesnes Community Primary School in Wigan near Manchester, England. The school’s Chair of Governors, Alison Halliwell, first shared the scoop on their Facebook page: “It is with nice unhappiness and feel sorry about that I've to announce the surprising death of our cherished Headteacher, Mrs. Helen Smart,” they wrote.

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“Our heartfelt condolences are despatched to Helen’s family at this very tough time. I do know this news might be a surprise and cause great disappointment to our community. I want to reassure you that the Governors of Worsley Mesnes School are operating with the native authority and college to make certain that our youngsters, personnel, and parents will obtain the essential strengthen in the coming weeks.”

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Helen’s husband, Craig, commented on the submit together with his own reminiscences and tribute: “She loved the varsity, group of workers, kids, and parents such a lot,” he wrote. “She was so proud to succeed in her goal of being Head Teacher. She used to mention to me all the time she may just never see herself at every other school.

This could be very sad information. Always a pleasure to interview & at all times a huge smile on her face. A Fierce competitor. Tributes paid to ‘inspirational’ Commonwealth medallist Helen Smart https://t.co/63Q3omEWkB

— Sharron Davies MBE (@sharrond62) August 15, 2023

“She was Worsley Mesnes thru and thru! I take into accout simplest remaining week she stated her goal was to get the college to outstanding and that she had the proper group of workers to achieve this! I hope you all continue to learn like champions. Please be told from this and reside your best lifestyles, no regrets, take lots of footage, make memories, and stay smiling identical to Helen always did!”

Our condolences move out to Helen’s friends, family, students, and associates.

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