Co-founder of charity which won praise for helping 2.8million people in Africa access safe drinking water dies aged 62 after crashing his Ultima Can Am supercar on motorway
- Paul Searle was killed when his vehicle left the M11 near Grantchester on July 6
- Paul was the director of one of the UK’s largest water cooler firms, AquAid
- In 2012 he co-founded The Africa Trust which operates in eight African countries
A charity co-founder praised for helping 2.8million people in Africa access safe drinking water has died in a sports car crash.
Paul Searle, 62, of Oakington, was killed when his yellow Ultima Can Am left the M11 near Grantchester, Cambridgeshire, and entered a wooded area at around 5.20pm on July 6.
Paul was the director of one of the UK’s largest water cooler firms, AquAid, and later co-founded the humanitarian charity The Africa Trust.
In a tribute, Paul’s family said his work had helped 2.77 million people in Africa access safe drinking water.
A family statement released on Monday said: ‘Paul was a loving husband, father, son and friend to many and will be sorely missed.
Paul Searle (pictured), 62, of Oakington, was killed when his yellow Ultima Can Am left the M11 near Grantchester, Cambridgeshire, and entered a wooded area at around 5.20pm on July 6
‘He dedicated the last 20 years of his life to both spreading the word of the gospel and helping those in need.
‘As a direct result of Paul’s charitable work over 2.77 million people in Africa now have access to safe drinking water and a further 16,000 are able to support themselves and their communities through the businesses he helped create.
‘We are incredibly proud of his achievements and know his legacy will continue for generations through his charity, the Africa Trust.
‘We’ll miss his booming laugh, smile and larger than life personality. He was needed in heaven but will forever be our loveable rogue.’
Paul’s firm AquAid, which he founded in 1998, provides water to more than 50,000 businesses in the UK.
AquAid says it has donated more than £6.5million to support developing countries in Africa since 1998.
Paul was the director of one of the UK’s largest water cooler firms, AquAid, and later co-founded the humanitarian charity The Africa Trust. Pictured: One of the water pumps donated in Africa
In 2012, Paul co-founded The Africa Trust, which operates in eight African countries including Kenya and South Africa, according to the Charity Commission website.
The NGO’s mission statement on its website reads: ‘The Africa Trust works to bring sustainable solutions to poverty in Africa.
‘This includes establishing sustainable supplies of clean productive water and decent sanitation.’
Mr Searle’s funeral is scheduled for 11am on Thursday 21 July, at St Andrews, Oakington.