A young child has tragically died after falling from a packed migrant dinghy crossing the English Channel — yet shockingly, the boat was allowed to continue towards Britain.
The harrowing incident unfolded on Sunday morning, just a day after two Somali women died in similar circumstances. French police confirmed the women perished from suffocation or drowning after setting off from northern France around 3:15am on an overloaded vessel.
Cécile Gressier, Boulogne-sur-Mer prosecutor, revealed the child’s body later washed ashore on Écault beach/”>beach/”>beach. She said: “An investigation has been opened to determine the circumstances of the death. The victim’s age and nationality have not been determined.” Witnesses suspect the victim was a young teenager.
Rescue Chaos as Migrants Plunge into Channel Waters
Emergency services rescued 48 migrants who fell into the Seasea after the dinghy capsized. Despite the tragedy, the boat pushed on to England with around 50 passengers still aboard.
This grim event adds to a deadly tally: 21 people have drowned attempting the Channel crossing so far this year.
The two Somali women died near Neufchâtel-Hardelot, south of Boulogne-sur-Mer, reportedly suffocating aboard before the vessel wales/began/”>began to break up or drowning after falling into the Waterwater.
French prosecutors have launched a criminal inquiry into these deaths, determined to track down the heartless people smugglers behind the deadly voyages.
Migrant Crisis Deepens Despite Government Crackdowns
Hundreds of migrants continue to gather along northern France’s coastline, preparing to cross under the cover of calm seas as French riot police keep watch.
At Dover, witnesses spotted six Border Force cutters ferrying more than 600 illegal migrants, mostly men, into the UK on Friday alone.
Last year, 78 migrants died attempting the crossing — the highest death toll since dinghy trafficking began in 2018. This year, over 32,000 have made the hazardous journey, with more than 50,000 arriving since Labour took office in mid-2024.
French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau declared: “Our government will intensify the fight against these mafias who are getting rich by organising these crossings of death.”
Despite pledges by Prime Minister Keir Starmer and President Emmanuel Macron to boost cooperation and crush smuggling rings, critics argue their efforts have failed to stem the rising death toll.
Deadliest Channel Tragedies Shine Light on Ongoing Crisis
- April 2024: Five migrants, including a young girl, died near Calais, prompting a criminal investigation.
- November 2021: The worst disaster saw 27 migrants drown after a dinghy capsized en route to the UK.
Both leaders back a ‘one-in-one-out’ plan to speed up migrant returns, hoping it deters dangerous crossings. But with boats still launching daily, the Channel remains a lethal gateway for desperate refugees seeking safety.
