Two people have tragically lost their lives while attempting to cross the English Channel on a small boat. This incident occurred during an overnight journey from Gravelines, near Calais, France, where nearly 80 migrants were aboard.
The French coastguard reported that an emergency operation was launched to assist the two individuals, along with ten others who needed help. Rescuers from a French Navy vessel reached the boat and provided first aid. Unfortunately, medical personnel later confirmed that the two individuals had died.
The bodies of the deceased, along with the survivors, were taken to Calais. The remaining migrants were allowed to continue their journey towards British waters, monitored by the French Navy.
This incident highlights the ongoing dangers faced by migrants attempting to cross the Channel. Just days prior, another person was confirmed dead when a different boat sank in the same waters.
Images captured show migrants arriving in Dover, Kent, wrapped in blankets after being brought ashore by a Border Force vessel. Others were also rescued by an RNLI lifeboat.
So far in 2025, over 12,500 people have made the perilous journey across the Channel to the UK, marking a record number for this time of year since tracking began in 2018. The increasing number of crossings raises concerns about safety and the conditions that lead people to risk their lives in search of a better future.