Two dead, dozens rescued after Channel crossing attempt off northern France

Two people died overnight after attempting to cross the English Channel in a makeshift boat off the coast of northern France, French officials told the AFP news agency. About 100 people set out in the improvised craft, and sixty were rescued and are currently being cared for by civil protection. A couple and their child with moderate hypothermia were rushed to a hospital in Boulogne. The incident occurred south of the beaches of Neufchâtel-Hardelot in the Pas-de-Calais region.

The rescue operation involved local authorities and civil protection units, who escorted the survivors to safety and provided medical assessments. The full extent of the group’s status was not immediately clear, but officials said the number of people rescued was sixty, with others believed to have managed to reach the shore or stay with other rescuers as the operation unfolded.

The episode comes as deadly Channel crossings continue to claim lives. At least 25 people have died so far this year attempting the perilous voyage in small boats. Earlier this month, three people were reported dead off Calais, in what authorities described as likely a crush on the bottom of a crowded vessel. Last year, about 50 people died in attempts to cross the Channel, according to the French coastguard.

In 2025, more than 30,000 people have reached the United Kingdom in small boats, and more than 50,000 have crossed since Labour came into power in July 2024. The spike in crossings has put pressure on the UK government to address asylum policies and border controls, amid a broader European debate over migrants, asylum procedures, and search-and-rescue obligations.

France and the United Kingdom recently struck a bilateral returns arrangement intended as a deterrent: for each migrant the UK returns to France, another migrant with a strong asylum case in Britain would be brought the other way. The deal is designed to slow the flow of crossings, though observers say implementation and humanitarian concerns remain contentious.

The political response has underscored the cross-party frustration with the crossings. Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has described the crossings as totally unacceptable, while Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has warned that the people-smugglers driving the perilous journeys are wreaking havoc on Britain’s borders. Humanitarian groups continue to call for safer and legal pathways for asylum seekers and for enhanced rescue and shelter provisions in the region.

As authorities investigate the latest incident, officials emphasize the danger of crossing the Channel in small boats and reiterate calls for coordinated European action to manage migration, safety at sea, and the protection of those in need of asylum. The situation remains fluid as rescues continue and authorities assess the broader implications for policy and regional cooperation.