A MUM-of-four from a Bedale village has died after being hit by a speedboat off the Greek holiday island of Corfu.

Claire Glatman, 60, was struck by the boat on Monday morning while she was swimming off Avlaki Beach.

Three Britons, who are described by local media as being ‘young’ , were taken into questioning by port police who are investigating the incident.

The boat, apparently driven by one of the Britons held by officers, was later found abandoned at a marina on the other side of the island.

Friends of Mrs Glatman, who lived in the village of Well near Bedale, North Yorkshire, took to social media to pay tribute to her, describing her as ‘a beautiful soul’ and a ‘wonderful mum’.

And Well villagers this afternoon described her as a popular woman who was very well-liked in the community, hosting bridge nights and helping to fundraise for charity.

She had previously appeared in The Northern Echo for being part of a team who helped raise more than £91,000 for Macmillan Cancer Support by organising a charity night at Thirsk Hall.

One Well resident said: “I knew of her and knew that she was a lovely woman, a very hospitable person.

“She was just a lovely woman, I think that would be the common consensus among people in the village.”

She was described as a very active person and was reportedly a regular swimmer at the Avlaki Beach beauty spot where she was well-known among the ex-pat community.

Administrators of the Corfu Tourist facebook page, which promotes the island via social media, expressed their condolences following the tragedy.

They said that Mrs Glatman was one of two British people to drown off the island this week.

The statement, posted via facebook late on Tuesday afternoon, said: “Reporting the loss of life is very difficult but it’s really tragic what has happened in the last 24 or so hours on Corfu, with two deaths.

The Northern Echo:

Corfu is a popular holiday destination (file photo) Picture: Pixabay

“Firstly the death of British lady Claire Glatman, known by many on the island, who was was fatally injured when hit by a speedboat during a morning swim in Avlaki and in the last hour, a 27-year-old male British tourist has drowned at Kerasia beach this afternoon.

“Our hearts go out to both families and friends of them both - RIP.”

Local media on Corfu said Mrs Glatman was popular on the island, and was described by a friend as “a very good and genuinely nice person”.

Another wrote a tribute on facebook, saying: “She was an absolutely lovely woman.

“Very much loved on this island.

“Thoughts to the family.”

A post-mortem examination is due to be held by the Greek authorities on Tuesday.

The Greek coast guard has said that Mrs Glatman’s body “bore obvious signs of being hit by a boat propeller”.