A woman and a child have died off France's northern coast while attempting to cross the Channel into Britain, French authorities said on Wednesday, May 21. The latest tragedy brings to five the number of would-be asylum seekers who have died over the last 10 days trying to reach Britain, according to an Agence France-Presse tally based on official figures.
The woman and child were found dead in an overloaded boat carrying some 85 migrants who requested help from a French navy vessel, said France's Maritime Prefecture of the Channel and the North Sea. Ten passengers requested assistance, after which the boat continued its journey toward the United Kingdom, the prefecture said.
According to authorities, at least 15 migrants have died since the beginning of 2025 while trying to reach England. A total of 78 migrants died in 2024 while trying to cross the Channel aboard small boats, a record since the rise of crossings in this area in 2018.
Between January and December 2024, more than 36,800 people arrived in Britain via such dangerous crossings, a 25% increase compared to 2023.