Two women and a child die attempting to cross English Channel

A 10-year-old child and two women have died attempting to cross the English Channel, according to the French authorities.

The migrants were trying to cross from France to the UK.

Officials said the incident happened off the northern French coast at Bleriot Plage, which is near Calais.

French authorities also said 102 others were rescued from the boat.

The maritime police in France said it received a distress call from an inflatable dinghy that had run into trouble in calm seas.

A rescue ship and a French Navy helicopter were sent to the scene, officials said.

A medical team was sent to help the survivors, but the child and two women could not be saved.

The deaths were likely to have been caused by crushing, due to so many people on the boat, and not drowning, said French maritime officials.

The number of people successfully attempting to cross the English Channel has fallen by more than 40%, compared with the same time last year.

Some 18,609 people have successfully made the journey so far this year, Home Office figures show.

This is down 42% on this time last year (32,188), and 26% below the figure at this stage in 2024 (25,165).

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More than 700 people arrived in the UK on Wednesday - the highest number for a single day so far this year.

Last week also saw two uncontrolled landings, where migrant boats arrived on UK shores without being intercepted by authorities.

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

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