The parents of a woman swept to her death in a jungle river moments after saving a baby's life today paid tribute to their talented daughter.

Patricia Rodwell, 75, of Beacon Road, Seaford, was woken by police on an October morning last year who broke the news of her daughter Sharron Poulton's disappearance on an adventure trip in Ecuador.

She said: "The police came to tell us she was missing and then we had to wait another two days before they found her."

Mrs Poulton, 38, of Enys Road, Eastbourne, had been with a group of 66 others who had flown on to South America for a fund-raising cycling challenge.

But she drowned the day after arrival when a 20ft dug-out canoe carrying 13 people was sucked into a whirlpool in the Rio Napo, a tributary of the Amazon.

Before she was swept away, she saved a one-year-old baby by holding her above the raging current before calmly handing her to the next member in a human chain.

Mr and Mrs Rodwell described their daughter as full of talent and life, who lived for her nine-year-old daughter.

She had been a chef at the Hungry Monk restaurant, in Jevington.

Mrs Poulton had no formal training in catering but Mrs Rodwell said her daughter's natural flair and imagination had propelled her to the title of head chef.

Mrs Poulton also ran her own catering business, Kitchen Kats, and was an adviser to East Sussex County Council.

She attended university in Brighton, gaining a degree in fine art and print-making.

Geoffrey Rodwell, her father, said: "She was very good at presenting her ideas and she had an unusual way of thinking. We have some of her paintings hanging up around the house."

Mr Rodwell said his daughter had also been a gifted long-distance runner. She made her debut in the London marathon, running in the crowd of fun-runners but achieving a time of two hours 40 minutes, placing her close to professional competitors.

The couple said they were proud but not surprised at their daughter's bravery and the part she played in saving the native child's life.

Sharron was buried at the church of St Peter and St Paul, Hellingly, where she had been married.

Reverend Ronald Chatwin conducted the service.

In a tribute read out in the service he said: "Sharron can best be described as a strong, independent and very determined person. This, coupled with a natural talent, helped make her highly competitive at everything she did."

Mr Rodwell said the church was packed.

He said: "People came from all sorts of places and even people from the charity and who were on the canoe."

The couple received letters from old friends of Mrs Poulton, who recalled her adventurous spirit and love for life.

An inquest on the death of Mrs Poulton was carried out at Lewes Magistrates Court on Thursday when a coroner recorded a verdict of accidental death.

Sharron died at the end of her first year of an MA in sport and leisure cultures at the University of Brighton.

She had gained enough credits to be awarded a postgraduate certificate, which will be read out at the graduation ceremony on July 26 at the Brighton Centre.