Key facts
- Four migrants died in two separate incidents while attempting to cross the English Channel from France to Britain.
- One man died when a boat capsized off Hardelot, with a child among the injured.
- Three people were found dead on a separate boat launched from the Dunkirk area.
- French authorities reported an increase in risks posed by people smugglers.
- A UK government spokesperson highlighted the dangers of criminal gangs exploiting vulnerable people.
- Over 13,000 migrant arrivals have been recorded in the UK so far this year, a decrease from previous years.
Four people have died attempting to cross the English Channel from France to Britain in small boats, French officials reported on Thursday. In two separate incidents, one man died when a vessel capsized off the coast at Hardelot late Wednesday, with a one-year-old child among those injured. Separately, three people were found dead aboard a small boat early Thursday after launching from the Dunkirk area.
French authorities confirmed the deaths, noting that people smugglers are increasing risks for migrants. In 2025, French authorities rescued 6,177 migrants on the French side of the Channel, and at least 29 migrants died at sea. The UK government reported that over 13,000 arrivals have been recorded so far this year, a 45% decrease compared to the same period last year. A £662 million deal signed in April between the UK and France aims to curb dangerous crossings by boosting enforcement on beaches.
According to the University of Oxford's Migration Observatory, a total of 162 people died in the English Channel between 2018 and 2025. Small-boat crossings have become the most common method for illegal entry into the UK since 2020.