John van Wisse was attempting to set a world record on an ultra-triathlon from London to Paris when he was swooped on by local police and the British Coastguard on Wednesday, the Dover Express reported.
"It looks like a couple of people called thinking it was illegal immigrants coming ashore because some people were seen jumping off a boat," a police spokesperson told the newspaper.
"The Border Force were down there and the Coastguard.
"But it was a Channel swimmer."
Police saw "the funny side" and allowed van Wisse to proceed after a short delay on the second leg of the triathlon, having already run the 87-mile first leg from London's Marble Arch to the Kent coast.
The third and final leg is an 181-mile bike ride from Calais to the Arc de Triomphe in Paris.
(Writing by Ian Ransom; Editing by Greg Stutchbury)
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