A limbless man, Philippe Croizon, has said that he will attempt to swim the English Channel next week.

The Frenchman lost his limbs in an accident 16 years ago and has only taught himself to swim in the last two years.

According to The Telegraph, he will attempt to become the first limbless person to swim the Channel - a distance of 21 miles.

Croizon, 42, will be fitted with prosthetic legs with flippers attached and a snorkel for the challenge.

He is expecting to take up to 24 hours, at a speed of 1.8 miles per hour, to complete it and will take regular one-minute breaks to eat and drink.

Croizan lost his limbs after suffering an electric shock at his home in Saint-Remy-sur-Creuse in west France. (ANI)