Four migrants died while attempting to reach the UK after the busiest day for Channel crossings this year. Three people were found dead on a boat off the coast of Dunkirk on Thursday, the French coastguard said, and a fourth is thought to have drowned in a separate incident near Boulogne-sur-Mer.
Busiest Day of 2025
On Wednesday, 752 migrants arrived in the UK after making the journey in nine boats, Home Office figures show. This suggests an average of 84 people per boat and is understood to be the 33rd highest day for arrivals since the current crisis began in 2018. The latest arrivals take the provisional total for the year so far to 14,128, which is 42% lower than the number recorded by this time last year (24,538) and down 15% on the same period in 2024 (16,712). The highest number of migrant crossings in a single day was recorded on September 3, 2022 (1,305).
Details of the Incidents
French authorities said a boat was spotted at about 6am with three people on board who were found unresponsive. They were taken to shore by rescue crews and paramedics confirmed they had died, according to a translation of a statement from the Prefecture maritime de la Manche et de la mer du Nord. A judicial investigation has been launched after a man thought to be between 30 and 40 died in a separate incident hours earlier, when a dinghy capsized off the coast of Plage d’Hardelot. A one-year-old was among six people rescued and treated by emergency services, the region’s state body the Prefet du Pas-de-Calais said.
Reactions and Government Response
Andy Burnham, the Prime Minister, said the Government’s plan to curb Channel crossings was “working”, although he admitted there was “more to do”. Charity Safe Passage International described the deaths as “devastating and avoidable” while calling on the Government to “take accountability for the lack of safe routes for refugees”. The Conservative’s shadow home secretary Chris Philp said the tragedies were “preventable”. The Government said it was “deeply saddened” by the news and vowed to “continue working relentlessly with the French and our partners overseas to prevent these perilous journeys”. The Home Office insisted the Government was “bearing down” on Channel crossings and said the “landmark new payments by results” deal struck by Shabana Mahmood with France will “boost enforcement action on beaches and put people smugglers behind bars.”
Deal with France
In April, the Home Secretary signed a three-year £662 million deal which is expected to see French police removing hundreds of migrants from beaches every year. Riot police will be sent to stop migrants entering the Channel as part of measures which have come into force this summer, typically the busiest time of the year for crossings.
