Migrant dies trying to cross Channel to reach UK

More than 30 radical were rescued aft a vessel got into trouble successful the Channel overnight connected Friday, the French Coastguard said.

French media reported that the migrant who died was Syrian and was crushed by different migrants portion connected a leaky dinghy.

The antheral was pronounced dormant astatine astir 4.30am connected Saturday, according to French media.

A chopper and boats were deployed to rescue the 35 migrants, including astir 15 who were successful the water.

This latest calamity underlines the unspeakable dangers of tiny vessel crossings, and we proceed to bash everything we tin to forestall them

Government spokesman

The migrants were taken onto a rescue vessel and returned to Boulogne-sur-Mer, a large sportfishing larboard connected the northbound seashore of France, wherever they were taken attraction of by onshore rescue services and the borderline police, the French coastguard said.

One teen was taken to infirmary successful a unchangeable condition, it added.

A UK Government spokesperson said: “We tin corroborate determination has been a tragic incidental involving a tiny vessel connected the French seashore which has resulted successful the nonaccomplishment of 1 life. Our thoughts are with those affected.

“This latest calamity underlines the unspeakable dangers of tiny vessel crossings, and we proceed to bash everything we tin to forestall them.

“These criminals lone attraction astir profit, not the lives they enactment astatine risk, which is wherefore they are cramming ever-greater numbers of radical connected to progressively flimsy and unsafe boats.”

The French coastguard besides warned of the dangers of crossing the Channel and said this country is 1 of the busiest successful the world, with much than 600 merchant ships passing done each day.

It comes aft figures showed the fig of migrants arriving successful the UK successful 2024 aft crossing the English Channel successful tiny boats was up by a 4th connected the erstwhile year.

Some 36,816 radical made the travel successful 2024, a leap of 25% from the 29,437 who arrived successful 2023, according to provisional figures from the Home Office.

The full is down 20% connected the grounds 45,774 arrivals successful 2022, however.