Two migrants die in latest Channel tragedy

Two migrants have died – and a third has been rushed to hospital – after their dinghy sank just hours after French police failed to stop them attempting to cross the Channel.

At least five rescue ships – and a Coastguard helicopter – were scrambled to the emergency off the coast of Audreselles.

But French police are facing fresh fury tonight after it emerged officers failed to stop the boat as it was carried into the water by 60 people.

It is said to have sunk several hours later.

“Police were watching them, but were reluctant to intervene when they were in the water. Soon afterwards, one of the boats capsized, flinging everyone into the sea.”

The deceased – identified only as a man and woman in their 30s – were declared dead following a rescue operation.

A third victim was airlifted to hospital, while 57 other passengers were ‘narrowly rescued,’ said the source.

Rescue teams found the majority of the migrants in the water but indicated that “two lifeless people” were no longer within sight.

“A French fire brigade boat picked up the two people, who unfortunately could not be resuscitated.”

It follows six Afghans aged 21 to 34 drowning in the Channel on August 12, when their small boat sank.

The deadliest disaster of this type happened two years ago, in November 2021, when at least 27 migrants died in similar circumstances.

Earlier this year, Britain pledged to fund an extra 500 French officers to patrol the country’s beaches.

This was part of a £500 million three-year Anglo-French deal to crack down on migrant crossings. 

More than 26,000 people have got into Britain using small boats since the start of 2023, despite regular claims of government action.

This has included British observers being stationed in control rooms in France, even though they are not allowed to join patrols.

Rescue teams are understood to have found some migrants in the water, while others were clinging to the wreckage of the dinghy.

An alert was put out to every ship and vessel in the area to assist the rescue ships.

Crossings have been virtually impossible over recent days, due to high winds and the strength of the swell in the English Channel.

But people smugglers have seemingly tried to take advantage of a narrow window before the weather deteriorates again over the weekend.

The Regional Operational Centre for Surveillance and Rescue (CROSS) Gris Nez engaged the coastal maritime surveillance boat (VCSM) Aber Ildut of the maritime gendarmerie as a precaution to monitor the maritime sector in front of the beach of Equihen.

They said: “At around 1.30 pm (French time) the VCSM Aber Ildut informed the CROSS Gris-Nez that a boat of migrants had set sail and was in great difficulty less than a kilometer from the beach.

“Several people fell into the water and some appear to be lifeless.”