Two die as Channel crossing attempt turns deadly off northern France

Two people were killed overnight when a makeshift boat carrying migrants attempting to reach Britain across the English Channel ran into trouble off northern France, French authorities told AFP. About 100 people were on the vessel, and 60 were rescued and are being cared for by civil protection teams. A couple and their child, suffering 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, according to Isabelle Fradin-Thirode, a local official cited by AFP.

Rescuers continued working through the night as the operation unfolded, with authorities signaling that the rescued individuals were receiving care from civil protection units. The incident underscores the ongoing dangers of crossings from France to the United Kingdom on small boats, a pattern that has persisted through 2025 and drew immediate attention from regional authorities and the UK government.

Officials say that at least 25 people have died so far this year trying to cross the Channel in small boats. Earlier this month, three people died in what authorities described as a likely crush on the bottom of a crowded vessel off Calais. Last year, 50 people died while attempting Channel crossings, according to figures kept by the French coastguard.

Data compiled by authorities show that more than 30,000 people have reached the UK in small boats so far in 2025, and more than 50,000 have crossed since Labour came to power in July 2024. The numbers have intensified political debate in both countries over border policy and asylum procedures as authorities search for a sustainable approach to a longstanding crisis.

The UK government has faced growing pressure over migrant crossings and asylum applications. France and the United Kingdom recently agreed on a so-called one-in, one-out returns deal, designed as a deterrent to stop boats from crossing the Channel. The agreement contemplates that for each migrant the UK returns to France, another migrant with a strong asylum case will come the other way to Britain.

Reaction from political leaders has reflected frustration with the crossings. Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer described the crossings as totally unacceptable, while Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said the people-smugglers behind them are vile and are wreaking havoc on Britain’s borders. The incident adds to a broader debate over border security, humanitarian responsibilities, and the best path forward for preventing dangerous crossings while ensuring safe and lawful routes for those in genuine need.

The week’s events come as authorities in both countries continue to monitor Sea Channel activity, coordinate search-and-rescue operations, and balance immediate lifesaving needs with longer-term policy objectives. With the backlog of asylum claims and ongoing pressures at the border, officials say a durable, multilateral approach remains critical to reducing loss of life while addressing the root causes that push people to undertake perilous crossings.