French officer wants to be first man ever to cross Gibraltar by parachute

Thierry Demonfort, a French marine officer, is readying to be the first man ever to cross by parachute the 14-km Gibraltar strait, separating Morocco and Spain.

Demonfort told the press on Thursday he intends to rely on his long experience in aeronautics to achieve this world feat.

The officer is not a novice in such adventurous undertakings. He already crossed the Manche, between France and England by parachute, and is holder of the world record in tandem plummet.

Demonfort will jump from a balloon over the Spanish town of Tarif and will try to reach the suburb of Tangiers (northern Morocco) in 30 minutes.