A baby tragically lost its life, while 65 others were rescued after an overcrowded migrant dinghy heading from France to the UK capsized on Thursday night. French maritime authorities managed to save the survivors, but the infant, found unconscious, was later pronounced dead, as reported by AFP.
This heartbreaking event adds to the growing number of fatalities in 2024, making it the deadliest year for migrants attempting the perilous English Channel crossing since 2018.
The incident occurred near the French town of Wissant, according to the maritime authorities responsible for the Channel and the North Sea. They confirmed: “65 people were rescued, but a baby was found unconscious and sadly declared dead.”
This tragedy brings the total number of migrants who have died attempting to cross the Channel in 2024 to at least 52, setting a grim record for the year.
Earlier, on September 3, twelve migrants – including six children and six adults – died in a similar incident. Just a month later, a two-year-old boy and three adults also perished when overloaded boats capsized.
Data from British authorities shows that the average number of migrants arriving by boat this year is 53, a significant rise from 13 in 2020. Since January 1, over 26,000 migrants have made it to British shores, according to the UK Home Office.
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