A 70-year-old Australian man officially became the oldest person to swim the English Channel, considered the ‘Everest of swimming'.

Lifelong swimmer and life guard Cyril Baldock thanked his supporters on Twitter after completing the swim between England and France in 12 hours and 45 minutes on Wednesday.

"I haven't had this much fun in years," he told reporters while standing on French soil.

When he was half-way there his Twitter account @BaldockCyril reported, "Spirits still high. Weather is magic!"

However Mr Baldock's record may be short-lived, because 73-year-old Brisbane woman Irene Keel is also attempting the swim this week, according to ABC news in Australia.

(READ the story from The Australian) – Photo from Twitter @BaldockCyril