Philippe Croizon First Limbless Man to Cross English Channel

Philippe Croizon, 42, who had undergone amputation of all four limbs, became the first man in the world without arms and legs, managed to overcome the 22 miles English Channel that separate France from the UK.

The Frenchman became disabled 16 years ago after he had received a powerful electrical discharge of current while trying to fix a television antenna. The burns were so severe that doctors had to amputate all his limbs. One day after watching a documentary about the swimmers crossing the Channel, Philippe decided that he should try his luck as well. For the last two years, he has been training in the pool at least 30 hours a week and working out at the gym. He has a special prosthesis and a swimsuit that were designed for him for this purpose.French President Nicolas Sarkozy personally wished good luck to the daredevil. Going from the British port of Folkestone at 7.00 am, he finished the race at 9.13 pm in the French city of Wissant... Croizon arrived a few hours earlier than planned.