Tragic Losses in the English Channel: Woman and Child Die in Attempted Crossing
Five fatalities recorded in the past ten days as risky crossings to the UK escalate amid favorable weather.
In a tragic incident late Tuesday into Wednesday, a woman and an eight-year-old boy lost their lives while attempting to clandestinely cross the English Channel near Calais, raising the number of fatalities in the region to five over the last ten days.
The ill-fated vessel had departed from Gravelines, Northern France, carrying approximately 80 passengers when it was monitored by the French naval ship, Rhône, according to the maritime prefecture of the English Channel and North Sea (Prémar).
During surveillance operations, the regional operational center for surveillance and rescue (CROSS) Gris-Nez was informed that two individuals were unconscious.
French military personnel responded promptly to provide assistance; however, despite their efforts, both victims were pronounced dead by medical teams after being transported back to Calais.
Ten additional passengers from the same vessel required medical attention and were also brought ashore.
The remaining group of travelers in the boat continued their journey toward the United Kingdom.
The surge in attempted crossings has been attributed to a favorable weather window, leading to reports of numerous departures.
Between Tuesday night and midday Wednesday, nine distress messages were received regarding migrants in peril, according to Célestin Pichaud, coordinator of the refugee assistance organization Utopia 56. Among the distress calls was a voice message in English reporting, with alarm, the deaths of at least two individuals aboard a troubled boat, emphasizing concerns over a non-reception policy that endangers lives.
The small motorized boats employed by smugglers often operate at capacity, sometimes resulting in tragic scenarios where individuals suffocate or are crushed amid chaotic departures.
The victims of this latest incident have been identified as a Turkish woman in her 40s and an eight-year-old boy, while survivors primarily indicated Turkish nationality, with some also hailing from Iran, Iraq, and Sudan.
These recent fatalities follow a series of deadly incidents in the English Channel.
According to official statistics, at least 15 people have lost their lives in the Channel since the start of the year.
Just days before this incident, a drowning resulted in one death and another person missing after an overloaded vessel disintegrated, and an additional incident on May 11 saw one death and several injuries from a capsized boat near Hardelot, caused by a loss of the rear assembly where the engine was affixed.
Fatal incidents are also occurring inland; mid-May saw the death of an Eritrean individual in Marck after being struck by a heavy vehicle while attempting to board a lorry bound for the UK. The increase in crossings has been stark, with 200 migrants rescued in the Strait over the weekend of June 17-18 alone.
Data from 2024 indicated that 78 migrants perished attempting these dangerous crossings, marking the highest toll since the onset of this trend in the region in 2018. Amid rising pressure from the far-right Reform UK party, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced mid-May his government’s exploration of offshore 'return centers' for rejected asylum seekers, a concept akin to proposals previously articulated by the EU. The Labour leader has committed to reducing both regular and irregular immigration into the UK, where approximately 36,800 migrants reached England last year, primarily from Afghanistan, Syria, and Iran, with nearly 13,000 arriving since January, surpassing figures from the same timeframe the previous year.
The ill-fated vessel had departed from Gravelines, Northern France, carrying approximately 80 passengers when it was monitored by the French naval ship, Rhône, according to the maritime prefecture of the English Channel and North Sea (Prémar).
During surveillance operations, the regional operational center for surveillance and rescue (CROSS) Gris-Nez was informed that two individuals were unconscious.
French military personnel responded promptly to provide assistance; however, despite their efforts, both victims were pronounced dead by medical teams after being transported back to Calais.
Ten additional passengers from the same vessel required medical attention and were also brought ashore.
The remaining group of travelers in the boat continued their journey toward the United Kingdom.
The surge in attempted crossings has been attributed to a favorable weather window, leading to reports of numerous departures.
Between Tuesday night and midday Wednesday, nine distress messages were received regarding migrants in peril, according to Célestin Pichaud, coordinator of the refugee assistance organization Utopia 56. Among the distress calls was a voice message in English reporting, with alarm, the deaths of at least two individuals aboard a troubled boat, emphasizing concerns over a non-reception policy that endangers lives.
The small motorized boats employed by smugglers often operate at capacity, sometimes resulting in tragic scenarios where individuals suffocate or are crushed amid chaotic departures.
The victims of this latest incident have been identified as a Turkish woman in her 40s and an eight-year-old boy, while survivors primarily indicated Turkish nationality, with some also hailing from Iran, Iraq, and Sudan.
These recent fatalities follow a series of deadly incidents in the English Channel.
According to official statistics, at least 15 people have lost their lives in the Channel since the start of the year.
Just days before this incident, a drowning resulted in one death and another person missing after an overloaded vessel disintegrated, and an additional incident on May 11 saw one death and several injuries from a capsized boat near Hardelot, caused by a loss of the rear assembly where the engine was affixed.
Fatal incidents are also occurring inland; mid-May saw the death of an Eritrean individual in Marck after being struck by a heavy vehicle while attempting to board a lorry bound for the UK. The increase in crossings has been stark, with 200 migrants rescued in the Strait over the weekend of June 17-18 alone.
Data from 2024 indicated that 78 migrants perished attempting these dangerous crossings, marking the highest toll since the onset of this trend in the region in 2018. Amid rising pressure from the far-right Reform UK party, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced mid-May his government’s exploration of offshore 'return centers' for rejected asylum seekers, a concept akin to proposals previously articulated by the EU. The Labour leader has committed to reducing both regular and irregular immigration into the UK, where approximately 36,800 migrants reached England last year, primarily from Afghanistan, Syria, and Iran, with nearly 13,000 arriving since January, surpassing figures from the same timeframe the previous year.
