A Frenchman has failed to cross the English Channel on a jet-powered hoverboard.
Franky Zapata - a former jetski champion - attempted the 'flyboard' journey from Sangatte in France to Dover this morning.
The 35 km journey was expected to take around 20 minutes.
Franky Zapata, a 40-year-old inventor, takes to the air in Sangatte, Northern France, at the start of his attempt to cross the channel Thursday July 25, 2019. Zapata is anchored to his flyboard, a small flying platform he invented, taking off from Sangatte, in France's Pas de Calais region, and flying to the Dover area in southeast England. (AP Photo/Michel Spingler)However, the effort ended early when Mr Zapata fell into the water while attempting to land on a platform to refuel.
He was not injured.
A member of his team explained: "It is a huge disappointment. He made his rendezvous with the refuelling boat but he must have missed the platform by just a few centimetres.
"It wasn't the wind, it was the waves - the platform was two metres above the deck, every movement of the boat is exaggerated."
Mr Zapata's invention - which can fly at speeds of up to 140 km/h - drew international attention earlier this month when it was shown off during France's Bastille Day celebrations.
Fier de notre armée, moderne et innovante. pic.twitter.com/DQvIfPolQf
— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) July 14, 2019
