Baby Dies as Migrant Boat Sinks in English Channel Tragedy
A baby has tragically died after a migrant boat capsized during a risky crossing of the English Channel on Thursday night, French authorities have confirmed.
Overloaded Dinghy Sinks Off French Coast
The inflatable dinghy, heavily overloaded and carrying dozens of migrants, started sinking near Wissant, northern France. Emergency teams raced to the scene and rescued 65 people, some struggling in the water.
Unconscious Baby Found but Later Dies
Despite desperate rescue efforts, an unconscious baby was found during the search and later pronounced dead. Authorities have launched a full investigation into the heartbreaking loss.
“The boat, overloaded and in distress, had people in the water. Rescuers pulled those in trouble from the sea and searched for anyone still stranded,” said the local prefecture. “The baby was discovered during these searches.”
Deadliest Year Yet for Channel Crossings
- 2024 is already the deadliest year for English Channel migrant crossings since 2018.
- Dangerous dinghies, often packed with 50+ people, are increasingly used, with many migrants lacking life jackets.
- Earlier this year, 12 died in a sinking that included six children and a pregnant woman.
- Another incident saw four die, including a toddler, crushed in overcrowded boats.
This latest tragedy adds to the mounting death toll as migrants continue risking their lives on perilous Channel crossings.
