Kent swimmer attempts to swim the Channel to France - and back again

Watch: Justin Legge speaks to Sarah Saunders about his double Channel swim attempt

A swimmer from Kent is attempting to become only the third Brit ever to cross the English Channel to France and back.

Justin Legge from Bridge will attempt the double-swim in the next few days.

It will be his second Channel effort. He completed his first one-way swim at the height of the pandemic.

Justin will be in the water for at least 24 hours to complete his swim to France and back Credit: Justin Legge

There are a number of rules Justin will have to comply with to officially complete the swim with the Channel Swimming Association:

  • No one can touch him during the swim

  • Food and drinks are thrown in or passed via a long pole

  • When he arrives in France Justin must leave the water - but then dive straight back in to head for the UK

When Justin completed his first Channel swim there were travel restrictions during lockdown, so he trained in his children's paddling pool.

In training for his first Channel swim during lockdown Justin Legge had to swim in his children's pool Credit: Justin Legge

On the way back from his first 31 hours swim Justin Legge's support boat came across three young migrants in a canoe style boat and had to perform an unscheduled rescue.

This time his challenge will be the incredible endurance needed for the double length swim.

The support boat had to carry out a rescue when it came across three migrants in the Channel Credit: Justin Legge

During his first swim Justin raised more than 40-thousand pounds for Leukaemia charities and the NHS. This time around he is raising money for Windchimes in Herne Bay.

The group supports young people with learning disabilities and health issues, and their families.

Justin is fundraising to send some of the youngsters, who struggled to access support during lockdown, on a trip to Lapland.