Three people die and 48 rescued near Calais attempting to cross Channel
Share:
The deaths make 2024 the deadliest year on record for small boat Channel crossings. Three people have died after falling from an overcrowded small boat trying to cross from France to the UK, as 2024 became the deadliest year on record for perilous sea crossings.
The boat ran into trouble at about 6am on Sunday near Blériot-Plage, a public beach in Sangatte close to the French Channel port of Calais, emergency services said. Several people fell into the water trying to board the overcrowded vessel. The Calais prefect’s office and French maritime authorities said 48 people were rescued and 45 needed urgent medical help – the majority for hypothermia, four of whom were urgently transferred to hospital.
A rescue mission, by sea and helicopter, was launched from the French coast as soon as the boat was seen in difficulty. A French naval helicopter recovered the three people from the water who were pronounced dead by medical services. An investigation has been opened by the Boulogne-sur-Mer prosecutor’s office.
Operations continued along the French coast on Sunday morning to identify any other small boats in danger. Attempted boardings of other small boats and dinghies were spotted at several locations. The mayor of Sangatte, Guy Allemand, told AFP: “It never stops. It’s crossing after crossing, without any letup.”.
After a lengthy gap in crossings due to bad weather conditions, 1,485 people crossed by sea from the northern French coast to the UK between 25 and 28 December. Dozens more are understood to have made the crossing successfully earlier on Sunday and have arrived in Dover.
