Three dead in Channel as migrant crossings continue
Emergency services conducted a rescue mission after a boat got into difficulty off the coast of Sangatte, near Calais as ITV News' Charlotte Cross reports
At least three people have died attempting to cross the Channel in small boats, French authorities have confirmed.
A large-scale rescue operation off the coast of Sangatte, near Calais, began early on Sunday after reports around 50 people had struggled to board a boat.
The French Prefet Maritime for the Channel and the North Sea confirmed three people had died and 45 others had been rescued, with four being taken to hospital with hypothermia.
The deaths, which occurred in French waters, are the first in the Channel since October and bring the total number of people who have died attempting the crossing this year to at least 53.
ITV News' Charlotte Cross has the latest on the French authorities' rescue operation
The three migrants declared dead were recovered from the water by a French Navy helicopter.
A UK Government spokesperson said: “We can confirm there has been an incident in the Channel involving a small boat in French waters.
“French authorities are leading the response and investigation. We will not be commenting further at this stage.”
The incident follows four days of crossings that saw a total of 1,485 people make the journey – the busiest Christmas period since records began in 2018.
Figures published on Sunday showed 322 people crossed the Channel in six boats on Saturday.
Some 36,525 people have arrived in the UK after crossing the Channel in small boats so far this year, up 24% on 2023 but down 20% on the record year of 2022.
Sir Keir Starmer vowed to cut small boat crossings by “smashing the gangs” responsible for them, including through greater co-operation with international law enforcement and establishing a beefed-up border security command in the UK.
Since the general election in July, 22,951 people have made the journey, up 27% on the same period last year, but down 30% on 2022.
The deaths in the Channel on Sunday morning were caused by "ruthless criminals", a Home Office minister has said.
Dame Angela Eagle, the border security and asylum minister, said: "This morning, lives have been lost at sea because ruthless criminals running the small boat trade are overloading people into unseaworthy vessels.
"We continue to support the French authorities who are leading on the response to the incident, which took place in French waters.
"This Government is committed to smashing these gangs as part of our Plan for Change, and since July we have created the new border security command, begun a major crackdown on illegal working, increased deportations and agreed a landmark plan with Germany to disrupt people smuggling supply chains.
"Thank you to our Border Force staff for their tireless work throughout the festive period."
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