Tragedy as baby dies after overloaded migrant boat heading for UK sinks in the English Channel off coast of France
Today at 03:14 AM
A BABY has died after an overloaded migrant boat heading for Britain sank in the Channel.
The tragedy happened on Thursday night off the coast of France, the country’s maritime authorities have said.
Sixty five people were rescued from the boat but the baby was found “unconscious and sadly declared dead”, officials confirmed.
The sinking occurred off the French town of Wissant.
It brings the number of migrants to die while crossing the Channel since the beginning of the year to at least 52.
This compares to 13 in 2020, according to British figures.
It comes after a toddler was “trampled” to death and three adults died when overcrowded dinghies tried to making the same crossing on October 5.
While eight migrants died and six were taken to hospital, including a 10-month-old baby during one incident in September.
It came hours after Mafia-style crackdown plans were revealed by the Government.
The Home Office estimates over 26,000 migrants have arrived in Britain since January 1.
