More than 30 people were rescued after a boat got into difficulty in the Channel overnight on Friday, the French Coastguard said. French media reported that the migrant who died was Syrian and was crushed by other migrants while on a leaky dinghy. A helicopter and boats were deployed to rescue the 35 migrants, including about 15 who were in the water. A UK Government spokesman said: “We can confirm there has been a tragic incident involving a small boat on the French coast which has resulted in the loss of one life. “This latest tragedy underlines the terrible dangers of small boat crossings, and we continue to do everything we can to prevent them.

Source: The Times January 11, 2025 14:38 UTC