Channel migrants: Hundreds cross English Channel in small boats

Almost 300 people crossed the English Channel in small boats on the day one person died and another was seriously injured off the French coast.

The Home Office said 292 migrants crossed to the UK in seven boats on Friday.

They are the first recorded arrivals since 3 December when 118 people made the crossing.

So far this year 29,382 people have made the journey. Last year 45,774 migrants crossed in small boats.

On Friday more than 60 people were on board a boat which got into trouble about 8km (5 miles) from the French coast when it partially deflated, according to the French coastguard.

One person died and another was taken to a Calais hospital in a life-threatening condition.

The first group of people were pulled from the water at 01.15 local time (00.15 GMT) in the French-led operation, with a total of 66 rescued within an hour, the French coastguard said.

In August, at least six people died after a boat carrying migrants sank off the French coast.

In November 2021, at least 27 migrants died after a dinghy sank while heading to the UK from France, the highest recorded number of deaths from a single incident.

On Friday, home secretary James Cleverly said in a post on X: "The incident in the Channel last night is a horrific reminder of the people smugglers' brutality. 25,000 people have been averted from crossing this year - but we must and will do more.

"Every boat stopped is a potential life saved."

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