Canada boat tragedy: Fund for Lichfield victim raises £4k in two days

Miss Taylor, 29, from Lichfield, was one of five Britons killed near Vancouver Island last Sunday.

She had been living in the ski resort town of Whistler in British Columbia, where she worked at Whistler Day Spa.

A Go Fund Me page set up to help her family make the trip to Canada and return her body to the UK smashed its first donations target of $5,000, roughly £2,500, in just one day, with 81 people contributing. It now stands at more than $6,448 (£4,201).

A statement on the page, set up by colleague Zoe Martin, reads: "Katie Taylor was one of the five victims of the recent fatal boating accident off Tofino, BC.

"She was just 29. She was young and adventurous with a love for Whistler and Canada.

"Working at Whistler Day Spa at Pan Pacific Whistler Village Centre, she was well-known, well-liked and will be greatly missed.

"Please consider a donation to help Katie's family make the trip to Canada and return her to the UK."

People who made donations to the fund also paid tribute to Katie through the website.

Kirsty Howe, wrote: "It's so sad to hear about the loss of Katie. I hope some of the suffering is alleviated by having her body home and you are able to give her the burial of your choice.

"It sounds like she lived an incredibly full life filled with happiness so as friends and family you can be extremely proud of what she achieved."

A further update to the page said that a celebration of Katie's life will be held at the Dubh Linn Gate Irish Pub in Whistler on Monday (2(), where people have been invited to bring a photograph or a written memory of Katie to contribute to a memorial album for her family.

Following Katie's death, a statement issued by the Foreign Office on behalf of her family said:"Katie was a vibrant, outgoing and lovely young woman.

"She will be very much missed by all of her family and many friends.

"We would ask that you respect our privacy at such a difficult time."

To donate, visit www.gofundme.com/4c7e2t3g