Tribute paid to British children's nurse killed by shark

Tributes have been paid to a British children's nurse who died following a shark attack while swimming in Australia.

Doreen Collyer was a specialist paediatric nurse at Countess of Chester Hospital before taking up a nursing lecturer role at the University of Chester for 15 years.

She was attacked on 5 June while scuba diving off the coast of Perth; where she had moved with her husband David five years ago.

Witnesses describe the shark in question as being 18 feet long.

Ms Collyer held accredited qualifications from the RCN, Fellow Higher Education Academy and the Australian College of Children and Young People’s Nursing.

Most recently she had been working as director of postgraduate studies at the School of Nursing and Midwifery at Edith Cowan University in Perth.

University of Chester’s executive dean of the faculty of health and social care Annette McIntosh-Scott said: ‘We are deeply saddened to hear of her death.

‘Doreen was a hugely valued and loved member of staff. She will be remembered as someone with a real commitment and passion for teaching and child healthcare.

‘Her students were at the heart of all she did. Our heartfelt thoughts and prayers go out to her husband and family.’

Mr Collyer paid tribute to his wife, saying: ‘Doreen loved nursing, she was a passionate nurse and a fantastic teacher.

'She was a beautiful, wonderful person and she was very good at her job.

'She was loved by everyone and was very caring and loving. She was full of life and very active.

'She touched a lot of lives through her teaching and through her time working on the wards.'