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Two Migrants Die in Overloaded Boat Attempt Across the English Channel Near Berck
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Fatal Crossing Attempt Near Berck
Police observed a group of migrants boarding a small boat on the beach at about 22:00 local time on Sunday. Rescuers arrived to find the vessel overloaded and taking on water; the occupants were bailing out water while still wearing shoes. When the French national sea rescue service (SNSM) reached the scene, two men in their 30s and 40s were in cardiac arrest and later died on shore. Two women, aged 20 and 26 and identified as Somali nationals, suffered burns from gasoline-contaminated seawater but were treated for non-life-threatening injuries. About 20 other passengers were left in the water because the boat could not accommodate them. The Boulogne-sur-Mer public prosecutor’s office has opened an investigation into the deaths.
Background on Channel Crossings
Cross-Channel migration by small boats has been a persistent issue for France and the United Kingdom. The UK Home Office reported that 149 migrants were rescued in a separate mid-Channel operation on the same day and taken to Gosport, Hampshire. Anti-migration demonstrators gathered in the south-coast town, setting off flares and confronting police. The Home Office’s year-to-date figures show 19,451 people have crossed the Channel in small vessels, a decline of 43 % compared with the same period last year and 23 % lower than the same stage in 2024.
Official Statements & Responses
Jean-Marc Lamblin, director of the SNSM, told *La Voix du Nord* that the boat carried at least 80 people and emitted a “terrible smell of gasoline.” He noted the presence of children and the difficulty of getting everyone aboard, which left many stranded in the water. The Boulogne-sur-Mer prosecutor’s office confirmed that an inquiry is underway to determine the circumstances surrounding the two deaths.
Data & Statistics
Verbatim Quotes
- “When we arrived, there were at least 80 people on board and a terrible smell of gasoline,” — Jean-Marc Lamblin, director of the French national sea rescue service (SNSM)