The incident happened first thing this morning.
The incident happened near Calais on Monday morning (Image: Getty)
At least three UK-bound migrants died today and dozens more were severely injured when a mega-dinghy capsized in the English Channel. The incident happened off the coast at Wissant, near Calais, first thing on Monday morning. A spokesman for the Pas-de-Calais confirmed “a provisional total of three deaths and many more injured.” Last week, three migrants died as they scrambled for places on board a boat.
The latest deaths mean that at least 24 people, including women and children, have died in the Channel this year as they tried to reach Britain. Many have drowned, while others have been crushed to death in overcrowded boats.
The worst tragedy happened in November 2021, when 27 migrants died after a dinghy sank while heading to the UK – the highest number of deaths from a single incident on record.
Multiple attempts at crossings have taken place from the coast of northern France over the last few days, as the smugglers take advantage of calm seas and good weather.
Home Office says 781 migrants arrived in Britain last Wednesday (Image: Getty)
According to figures from the UK Home Office, 781 migrants arrived in Britain last Wednesday—the highest single-day total recorded so far this year.
On Thursday last week, fighting broke out on the coast at Camiers, south of Boulogne-sur-Mer, following “reports of a migrant-carrying vessel in distress”, according to a spokesman for the Pas-de-Calais prefecture.
He also said: “Around thirty individuals managed to board the boat, but an adult male was then found in the water, and in cardiorespiratory arrest”. Medical experts tried to revive the man, who has not been identified, but he was later declared dead at the scene.
In total, 18,565 migrants have reached England via this route since January, a figure down by more than 40% compared to the same period in 2025.
The increase in crossings indicates that people-trafficking gangs are still getting hold of dinghies and outboard motors with ease, despite a crackdown on supply routes.
Last week also saw two “uncontrolled landings” in which migrant boats reached the UK without being intercepted by the authorities.
In further chaotic scenes a dinghy launched from near Bayeux, in Normandy, made a record 38-hour voyage.
They launched just before 10am on Monday and, on Tuesday afternoon, were picked up by RNLI lifeboats and later transferred to a Border Force cutter.
The 51 migrants aboard were eventually brought ashore to Dover in the early hours of Wednesday.