From Calais you can see the English coast, it doesn't seem that far. There are ferries going in and out of the port almost continuously so it's not as if you'll be alone out there.
These guys had already crossed the Mediterranean Sea, the Channel was soo narrow by comparison.
If I remember correctly they had bought wetsuits in a sports shop and made preparations but not only is the Channel one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world it is also subject to severe currents and tides. Even in summer the weather never rises above 10*C
One of their bodies was carried to Scandinavia by the currents.
People swim the Channel every year, but they spend years training in open water, they are greased up to protect their skin and have a support boat beside them providing food and water. Most of them fail and return home on the support boat. Even relay teams run out of swimmers and fail.
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