A record-breaking swimmer donated her competition winnings to charity after witnessing the destruction caused by the Nepalese earthquake.

Olympic-hopeful Gaurika Singh, a pupil at  Haberdashers' School, in Elstree, won six gold medals in the Nepal National Swimming Championship and has pledged to donate her winnings of approximately £200 – to the charity Shanti Education Initiative Nepal.

While in Nepal, the 12-year-old's parents shielded her from the destruction of the April 25 earthquake and she only realised the full extent of the tragedy when she arrived back in the UK.

The family could not escape the fifth floor of the building they were staying in.

She said: “My brother came out from the other room and we went into the middle of the room and the under the table.

“It was really confusing because time went by really quickly, apparently we were under the table for ten minutes.”

Her chosen charity, Shanti Education Initiative Nepal, was founded by a family friend.

The charity provides children in rural areas with an education and currently they are helping to rebuild the country’s schools.

Gaurika, who lives in Mill Hill, said: “I got a good education so I don’t see why they shouldn’t too.”

As the charity's goodwill ambassador, she will be able to see the progress being made with her donation next time she goes to Nepal.

Gaurika said she did not fully understand the role she could play until she saw Harry Potter star Emma Watson giving a speech about gender equality in her role as a goodwill ambassador for the UN.

Once she finishes school, Gaurika - who hopes to compete at Brazil 2016 - would like to create a swimming programme in Nepal for underprivileged children, following the example of one of her swimming idols Michael Phelps, who has created a similar organisation in the US.