An Indian Air Force (IAF) team has created a record by successfully crossing the English Channel between the United Kingdom and France twice within a fortnight.
"Having successfully crossed the English Channel on 26 Jun 2012, in 12 hours 14 minutes breaking the previous Asian record in this category (Relay), the IAF's Swimming Team successfully crossed the English Channel once again on 05 Jul 2012 clocking 11 hours 25 minutes beating its own record," the IAF said in a release.
It said this makes 'Delphinus' the first team in the world to have crossed the channel twice in the same year and that too in the first tide which is considered the toughest.
Led by Wing Commander Paramvir Singh and three other members – Flight Lieutenant Narayanpethkar, Corporal AK Patel and Corporal S Srihari, the team is the first ever from the Indian armed forces to swim the English Channel.
The team is also competing for the ‘Endurance Trophy’ which would be announced by November 2012 as the Channel Crossing is open till September 2012.