Infant passes away following rescue of unlawful immigrant boat in English Channel
The tragic incident resulted in the unfortunate death of a baby, occurring during an attempt by illegal immigrants to reach the UK by boat off the coast of France. French authorities confirmed that the baby was discovered unconscious and was later pronounced dead following the incident near Wissant in the Pas-de-Calais region on Thursday evening.
The French maritime prefecture for the English Channel and the North Sea reported that 65 individuals were rescued and brought back to Boulogne-sur-Mer. A search is ongoing for any other missing persons using a French navy vessel and helicopter.
An investigation has been initiated by the public prosecutor’s office in Boulogne.
Recent Channel Fatalities
A heart-wrenching fatality occurred less than two weeks after the tragic loss of another young child, a 2-year-old boy, in French waters. The overloaded boat carrying 90 people destined for the UK suffered engine failure, resulting in the boy’s death, as confirmed by French interior minister Bruno Retailleau.
On the same day, a woman and two men lost their lives under similar circumstances when a boat with 83 passengers experienced multiple engine failures, causing panic onboard. French authorities suspect that the victims were crushed and suffocated during the panicked situation, leading to their drowning.
Efforts have been made by the government to combat illegal immigration facilitated by human smuggling gangs through the establishment of a multi-agency Border Security Command.
The Home Office recently announced its commitment to dismantling criminal smuggling operations responsible for endangering individuals by overcrowding boats for financial gain.
Increased Arrivals
Despite the risks, a total of 27,557 illegal immigrants have arrived via small boats this year after crossing the English Channel. This marks a 6% increase compared to last year but is down by 26% compared to the same period in 2022.
Noteworthy days with a high number of crossings include the incident on Oct. 5, where 973 illegal immigrants crossed the English Channel in a single day using 17 boats, representing the highest number of arrivals in a day this year.
As part of the Anti-Smuggling Action Plan, the UK and other G7 nations agreed on joint investigations and intelligence-sharing to combat transnational organized immigration crime on Oct. 4. The Home Office stated that this international collaboration will strengthen efforts to disrupt people smuggling operations by intervening in transit countries.
“Criminal smuggling gangs jeopardize our border security and endanger lives. Our government is intensifying cooperation with other nations to crack down on these perilous gangs,” stated Home Secretary Yvette Cooper.
PA Media contributed to this report.
