Two people die in Channel crossing attempt
Six other people have been rescued off the coast of France
Two people have died trying to cross the English Channel from France.
Six other migrants were rescued, with one of them rushed to hospital for further care.
The French maritime prefecture said the small boat headed towards the beach at Gravelines, near Calais, at around 9.30am on Wednesday, where a group of about 30 migrants was waiting for it.
Responders pulled eight people onto a rescue boat when they got into difficulty, and a medical team was taken out to meet them – but two people could not be saved.
Migrants, including children, were seen struggling to board the small boat, while at least 12 French police officers were present in the beach area at the time.
A French navy helicopter later carried out a search of the area to make sure nobody was left in the water, the French authority said.
The number of crossings has risen in the following years, with some 41,472 people arriving in the UK by small boat in 2025.
So far this year, some 4,441 people have arrived in the UK on small boats