This was the third fatal sinking in the past 10 days
An Indian man who was trying to cross the English Channel died after the migrant boat he was on sank.
The incident happened on the morning of October 27, 2024.
According to French officials, the man set off from the beach of Tardinghen in northern France at 5:30 am local time.
However, the vessel, which was in “very poor condition”, deflated “immediately” after leaving the beach.
Not all the passengers had life jackets but most swam back to shore.
The Indian national, who was around 40 years old, was in “cardio-respiratory arrest” and could not be revived by emergency services.
This was the third fatal sinking in the past 10 days in what is already the deadliest year on record for Channel crossings.
On October 23, three people died after a small boat bound for the UK carrying dozens of migrants sank in the Channel. Forty-five people were recovered off the French coast.
Before that, a four-month-old baby died when an overcrowded migrant boat sank on the evening of October 18. Rescuers saved 65 others.
Since October 24, over 100 people have been rescued from migrant boats in distress.
Several attempts to cross the Channel were stopped by police and gendarmes on October 27, including in Equihen-Plage, Calais and Sangatte.
Officials say attempted crossings have risen in recent days due to favourable weather conditions.
New UK government figures show the number of migrants who arrived in small boats so far this year has already surpassed 2023’s total.
As of October 25, there had been 29,578 in 2024, compared to 29,437 across all of 2023. Last year’s total was lower than the record of 45,774 arrivals in 2022.
The Home Office said it will “stop at nothing” to dismantle people-smuggling gangs that organise small boat crossings.
A spokesperson said: “Our new border security command will strengthen our global partnerships and enhance our efforts to investigate, arrest, and prosecute these evil criminals.”
An undercover BBC investigation exposed a group of people-smugglers in Germany offering a Channel crossing “package” for £12,500.
The package included an inflatable dinghy with an outboard motor and 60 life jackets. The smugglers said they stored the boats in multiple secret warehouses to hide them from the German police.
Figures produced by the UN show this year has already been the deadliest for migrant crossings in the English Channel.
The latest sinking means at least 57 people have died attempting the journey in 2024.
Enver Solomon, chief executive of charity Refugee Council, said it was “vital” that the government did “everything possible” to ensure refugees no longer had to put their lives in danger.
He added: “We must not forget that those making the perilous journeys across the Channel are desperate men, women and children fleeing persecution and war, in countries such as Afghanistan and Sudan, simply seeking safety and a future free from fear.”
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