French inventor Franky Zapata has succeeded in crossing the English Channel on a jet-powered hoverboard he designed, having abandoned a previous bid after failing to land on a refuelling platform and falling into the sea.

Key points: It took Franky Zapata about 20 minutes to reach Britain

It took Franky Zapata about 20 minutes to reach Britain The inventor's second attempt comes just over a week after his first

The inventor's second attempt comes just over a week after his first Mr Zapata's failed attempt saw him crash into the English Channel while attempting to refuel

Standing on a platform powered by five small jet engines and carrying kerosene in a backpack, Mr Zapata took off from Sangatte, just outside Calais in France at about 6:00am (local time), trailed by three helicopters.

He reached Britain just over 20 minutes later, waving to onlookers before landing safely in Saint Margaret's Bay, close to Dover on Britain's southern coast, according to French television images.

"For the last five to six kilometres I just really enjoyed it," Zapata told reporters on arrival. "Whether this is a historic event or not, I'm not the one to decide that, time will tell."

"We made a machine three years ago … and now we've crossed the Channel, it's crazy," he said, before breaking into tears.

Franky Zapata broke into tears after reaching Dover. ( Reuters: Henry Nicholls )

Zapata's biggest challenge was refuelling with another backpack halfway through the 35-km journey across the Strait of Dover, which required landing on a platform mounted on a boat.

Mr Zapata's first attempt to cross the Channel last month saw him miss the refuelling platform by centimetres, according to a member of his team.

They said at the time: "It is a huge disappointment. He made his rendezvous with the refuelling boat but he must have missed the platform by just a few centimetres," a member of his team said on BFM television.

Space to play or pause, M to mute, left and right arrows to seek, up and down arrows for volume. Watch Duration: 24 seconds 24 s A crowd gathered to watch Franky Zapata's first crossing attempt.

"We practiced this manoeuvre dozens of times in heavier seas, with platforms that moved more, without any problems," the technician added.

"It wasn't the wind, it was the waves. The platform was two meters above the deck — every movement of the boat is exaggerated."

Despite falling into the Channel, Mr Zapata was not injured in the incident.

The inventor's first attempt to cross the Channel, on July 25, coincided with the 110th anniversary of the first powered flight between Britain and France, when French aviator Louis Bleriot made the crossing between Les Baraques — near Sangatte — and Dover in 36 minutes.

Mr Zapata gained international prominence following a hoverboard performance last month on Bastille Day.

The inventor flew over a military parade on Paris' Place de la Concorde, with French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel in the audience.

Watch Duration: 25 seconds 25 s Watch Space to play or pause, M to mute, left and right arrows to seek, up and down arrows for volume. Jet-powered flyboard soars over Paris for Bastille Day celebrations

Reuters