Lt Commander Tim Lawrence, from the US Air Force, is only the sixth swimmer to complete the stretch, and the first American to do so.

He swam the 14.8 nautical miles between La Coupe, north of Fliquet in Jersey, and Denville in eight hours, 21 minutes and 17 seconds.

It slices more than three minutes off the previous best.

Lt Commander Lawrence thanked the Jersey Long Distance Swimming Club which helped him.