Child and two women die after being ‘likely crushed’ in Channel crossing attempt

A 10-year-old child and two women in their 30s have died after being “likely crushed” in a dinghy attempting to cross the English Channel, French authorities said.

The vessel had left Bleriot Plage, near Calais, on Monday morning. After people on board called for assistance at sea, French authorities rescued 105 people from what they described as a “precarious” migrant dinghy.

A medical team was taken by helicopter to the rescue boat to treat survivors. The child and the two women could not be saved.

Francois-Xavier Lauch, the prefect of Pas-de-Calais, said at a press conference that there had apparently been no drowning.

“Apparently there was no drowning, it was likely crushing which is just as dreadful, especially if we think of the 10-year-old child,” he said.

The survivors were brought to the port of Calais. About nine other people required non-critical medical attention, according to the supplied report.

A judicial investigation has been opened to establish the precise circumstances of the deaths. The available evidence does not give further details about how the people on board were crushed or identify those who died beyond their ages and, in the case of the women, their approximate age group.

The Prime Minister’s official spokesperson said the government was “deeply saddened” by the deaths.

“It is a stark reminder of the dangers posed by the criminal gangs who exploit vulnerable people for profit, and we will continue to work relentlessly,” the spokesperson said.

“It’s the Prime Minister’s promise to do more to prevent these perilous journeys from happening.”

The incident came amid continued Channel crossings. Some 526 migrants arrived in seven boats on Sunday, while Home Office figures show that 19,135 people have successfully made the journey so far this year.

That total is 42% lower than at the same point last year, when 32,188 people had made the journey, and 24% below the figure recorded at this stage in 2024, when the total was 25,165.

More than 700 people arrived in the UK on Wednesday, the highest number recorded on a single day so far this year. The previous week also saw two uncontrolled landings, in which migrant boats reached UK shores without being intercepted by authorities.

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood ordered an urgent review by the Border Security Command.

The investigation in France is expected to determine the precise circumstances surrounding the deaths on the dinghy. Until its findings are established, the account that the victims were likely crushed remains an attributed assessment rather than a confirmed conclusion.