Limbless man swims across English Channel 10 hours ahead of schedule

A man with no arms and no legs was today celebrating becoming the first to swim across the English Channel - arriving a full 10 hours ahead of schedule.

Philippe Croizon, a 42-year-old who lost all of his limbs in a freak accident, achieved the incredible feat using specially designed prosthetic flippers.

The Frenchman set off from Folkestone, Kent, at 8am on Saturday morning and reached Wissant, near Calais, just before 9.30pm, Daily Mail reports.

The Frenchman said: "I've done this for myself and for those who have suffered tragedy and lost their taste for life." Government ministers called to congratulate him, adding: "This proves nothing is impossible."

Doctors had to amputate Philippe's limbs in 1994 after he was hit by 20,000 volts from a power line while working as an electrician, The Sun informs.