10-year-old child and two women die in Channel crossing attempt
French official: the deaths were likely caused by crushing
A 10-year-old child and two women have died after their boat got into difficulty in the Channel.
French authorities said 105 people on board the migrant dinghy were rescued after calling for assistance.
A medical team was transported to the rescue boat by helicopter to help the survivors, but the child and two women could not be saved.
The accident happened after the dinghy had left Bleriot Plage, near Calais, on Monday morning.
The deaths were likely caused by crushing, a French official has said.
Francois-Xavier Lauch, the prefect of Pas-de-Calais, told a press conference on Monday morning: “Apparently there was no drowning, it was likely crushing – which is just as dreadful, especially if we think of the 10-year-old child.”
Some 18,609 people have successfully made the journey so far this year, Home Office figures show.
This is down 42% on this time last year (32,188), and 26% below the figure at this stage in 2024 (25,165).
More than 700 people arrived in the UK on Wednesday – the highest number for a single day so far this year.
Last week also saw two uncontrolled landings, where migrant boats arriving on UK shores without being intercepted by authorities.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood ordered an urgent review by the Border Security Command.