Syrian man crushed to death attempting to cross Channel on small boat
It's the first confirmed death of someone trying to cross the English Channel in a small boat this year and comes as the government seeks to make a dent on people smuggling gangs.
Saturday 11 January 2025 14:54, UK
A Syrian man has been crushed to death trying to cross the Channel from France in a small boat, the AFP news agency has reported.
Two people have been arrested, a regional official told the agency.
"Last night, 30 migrants tried to get into the water on the beach at Sangatte," the official said, adding that the boat leaked so they all disembarked.
The man, who was in his 20s, had suffered a cardiac arrest.
He had "probably" been crushed to death, officials said.
It's the first migrant death reported by authorities in 2025.
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A UK government spokesperson confirmed the death, which it said occurred "on the French coast".
They added: "This latest tragedy underlines the terrible dangers of small boat crossings, and we continue to do everything we can to prevent them.
"These criminals only care about profit, not the lives they put at risk, which is why they are cramming ever-greater numbers of people onto increasingly flimsy and dangerous boats."
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The government has said it will introduce a "world first" sanctions regime to target people smugglers, as part of Labour's plan to reduce the numbers of people risking their lives to cross the English Channel.
The number of people making the perilous journey has surged in recent years, with more and more people packed aboard inflatable boats.