A 10-year-old child and two women in their 30s have died after an overcrowded inflatable boat carrying 105 people got into difficulty while attempting to cross the English Channel from France to the United Kingdom. French officials said the victims were likely crushed rather than drowned.
Details of the Incident
The inflatable dinghy left the northern French coast in the early hours of Monday, September 28, 2026, and ran into trouble off the coast near Sangatte. French maritime authorities received a distress call from the vessel after it encountered problems in calm seas. A rescue operation was launched, with a French maritime rescue boat and helicopter sent to assist the passengers.
The boat did not sink, and all those on board were eventually brought to safety. However, the child and the two women could not be saved. A medical team was flown by helicopter to the rescue vessel to treat those who needed urgent assistance. The three victims were treated but were later declared dead.
Cause of Death and Investigation
French officials said initial findings suggested the victims were likely killed by crushing caused by overcrowding, rather than drowning. François-Xavier Lauch, the prefect of Pas-de-Calais, said there appeared to have been no drowning and that the deaths were likely caused by crushing inside the crowded boat. The circumstances surrounding the deaths are now being investigated by French authorities.
The vessel was part of a method sometimes referred to as a “taxi boat” – inflatable boats used by smugglers to pick up migrants close to the shore before attempting the crossing to Britain. The boat carried more than 100 people as it headed towards the English Channel.
Rescue and Aftermath
The passengers were eventually taken aboard a French rescue vessel and brought to the port of Calais. Nine people among those rescued also required medical treatment, although their injuries were not considered critical.
The deaths have again highlighted the dangers faced by migrants attempting to cross the English Channel in small and overcrowded boats. The Channel is one of the world's busiest shipping routes, and migrants attempting the journey from northern France to Britain often rely on inflatable dinghies that can become dangerously overcrowded.
Ongoing Measures and Investigation
French authorities have increased patrols and surveillance along the northern coast in an effort to prevent small-boat crossings and disrupt smuggling networks. Despite those measures, the dangerous journeys have continued, with the latest tragedy involving a child among the passengers. The French judicial investigation will determine the precise circumstances that led to the deaths of the 10-year-old child and the two women.
