Two women die while crossing Channel from France to UK
Two more deaths linked to Channel crossing attempts
- Two women died on Saturday morning during an attempt to cross the Channel from France to the UK on a makeshift boat.
- Rescuers found the women in cardiac arrest off the coast of Neuchâtel-Hardelot, Pas-de-Calais, but were unable to save them.
- A couple and their child were also transported to a hospital in Boulogne following the incident, which saw around 60 people rescued.
- French authorities report that 17 migrants have died this year attempting Channel crossings from the Pas-de-Calais region, with 50 deaths recorded last year.
- A Home Office spokesperson described the incident as a "tragic" reminder of the dangers of small boat crossings, vowing to prevent exploitation by criminals.