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The Prince of Wales has led tributes to Dr Chad Varah, the founder of Samaritans, who has died aged 95.
Dr Varah passed away in hospital in Basingstoke, Hampshire, a spokesman for the charity confirmed.

He launched Samaritans from the crypt of St Stephen Walbrook Church, in the city of London, in 1953.

The Prince of Wales, patron of Samaritans, said Dr Varah was a "remarkable man" whose organisation has "saved the lives of countless people".

Felicity Varah, the eldest of Dr Varah's five children, said her father's relationship with Samaritans "had many chapters, from the moment he founded it in his beloved church... through its expansion worldwide".

It is our honour and determination to carry on his extraordinary work in the way he would have liked

She said that in his latter years, her father had "stepped back to allow the movement to grow and flourish".

Meanwhile, Steve Evans, the chairman of Samaritans, added: "It was Chad's inspiration and untiring determination that created Samaritans.

"It is our honour and determination to carry on his extraordinary work in the way he would have liked."

Samaritans chief executive Dominic Rudd described Dr Varah as "quite simply an extraordinary man".

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