Two people have died and another is missing after attempting to cross the English Channel from France to the UK on Wednesday morning. The incident marks the first fatal crossing of the year and occurred just hours after the UK and France agreed a £16.2 million interim 'stop the boats' deal.
The interim deal, which will run until May, was struck to replace the previous three-year agreement that expired on Tuesday. Negotiations for a longer-term deal are ongoing, with Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood reportedly seeking a 'payment by results' arrangement to reduce small boat crossings.
At around 9:30am, a dinghy was spotted heading towards Gravelines in northern France, where a group of about 30 people were waiting on the beach at Petit-Fort Philippe to board. The vessel got into difficulty, and the French rescue boat Ridens took eight people on board, two of whom were pronounced dead. A third person was brought to Gravelines beach for urgent medical attention, while a French navy helicopter monitored the situation.
Last year, at least 24 people died trying to cross the Channel, down from 73 in 2024. Steve Smith, chief executive of Care4Calais, criticised the government, saying: 'It is a tragedy that another two lives have been lost to our deadly border. That this comes hours after the home secretary agreed an extension to their brutal border deal with France is telling.' He called for safe routes for asylum seekers to prevent further deaths.
A government spokesperson expressed sadness over the deaths, stating: 'Every death in the Channel is a tragedy and a stark reminder of the dangers posed by criminal gangs exploiting vulnerable people for profit. We will continue working relentlessly with the French and our partners overseas to prevent these perilous journeys.'
