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A Swiss  extreme sports enthusiast nicknamed 'Fusionman' who uses a jet-propelled wing has flown into the record books after crossing the English Channel from France strapped to the wing.

Yves Rossy above the landing zone     AP Photo/Michel Setboun/National Geographic Channel and Jetman Live, HO

Daredevil Yves Rossy leapt from a plane at 9,000 feet, fired up his jets and made the 22 mile trip from Calais  to Dover  in less than 10 minutes.

He began the flight today (26 September) just before 1207 GMT and by 12:15 GMT, Rossy was above British soil and looped over onlookers before opening his parachute, with his wings still strapped to his back.

Rossy's parachute landing    Picture: Max Hess

The record breaking Swiss flyer landed safely in a field close to the South Foreland Lighthouse at St Margaret's.

Briton Ken Messenger is recognized as the first to cross the channel in a hang glider, in 1977.

Englishman David Cook was the first to do it in a powered microlight aircraft in 1978, also retracing Bleriot’s route.