An athlete preparing to swim the Channel was confronted by police and border officials who thought he was an illegal immigrant.
John Vane Wisse was preparing to set off from Dover to swim across the English Channel as part of an extreme challenge when two eagle-eyed locals spotted him preparing to get in the water and called police.
The Australian, who ran from London to the water's edge in Dover as part of a Paris to London endurance challenge faced the combined authorities of Port of Dover Police, the coastguard, Kent Constabulary and Border Force officials who were ready to confront a migrant struggling to shore.
The good-humoured athlete and his team laughed off the incident as 'priceless,' while witnesses say Police also saw the funny side of the mishap.
Following the gaffe Mr Van Wisse continued on his 289-mile journey.
Kent Police confirmed they were called just before 8.45am to reports of 'a person in the water'.
Border officials today said they would not comment on individual cases.
Swimming, running and cycling his way from London Marble Arch to the Arc du Triomphe in Paris Mr Van Wisse hopes to improve on the current world record - set by Mark Bayliss from Croydon - of 73 hours and 39 minutes.
He is aiming to arrive in Paris at mid-morning today.