French amputee begins bid to swim the English Channel

A Frenchman was attempting to become the first limbless person to swim the Channel today.

A Frenchman was attempting to become the first limbless person to swim the English Channel today.

Philippe Croizon, 42, set off from Folkestone, Kent, at around 6am and hopes to complete the challenge within 24 hours.

He was forced to have his arms and legs amputated after he suffered an electric shock while removing a television aerial from a roof 16 years ago.

He only taught himself to swim in the last two years and does so using prosthetic legs and a snorkel and mask.

His spokeswoman said: “It’s going well. He has done about 12 miles now in eight hours.

“He is swimming very fast so he may do it faster than expected, but we just don’t know as the wind could get stronger or he could get tired.”

The 21-mile swim should see Mr Croizon arrive somewhere between Boulogne and Calais in France.