Channel Tunnel death ‘is just the beginning’

Fears more will die trying to reach UK

A MIGRANT was found dead in the Channel Tunnel yesterday – bringing another day of chaos for cross-Channel travellers and warnings of more deaths amid the growing crisis in Calais.

A section of the tunnel was closed during the morning for investigations, leading to disruption to train services and more queues of lorries in Kent.

The man is thought to have died trying to board a moving UK-bound freight shuttle train at around 5.30am UK-time. He was one of thousands of migrants camped in Calais who are desperate to reach Britain – and the second to die in such an attempt in as many weeks.

A Eurotunnel spokesman said migrants were reported on a freight shuttle entering the tunnel. The train was halted and the overhead power was cut for French police to carry out a search. They later found a body.

The subsequent travel disruption forced Kent Police to reinstate Operation Stack – in which cross-Channel lorries are parked on the M20 – with warnings of ‘significant disruption’ to journeys.

Eurotunnel fears there will be more deaths unless France and Britain take stronger action.

‘This simply cannot go on,’ said a source. ‘Many more people will die. These migrants are desperate and are willing to risk their lives daily.

‘There are 3,000 people who are desperate to get to the UK. The French authorities should be arresting these people and processing them, but they are not. The local police can’t cope.

‘Meanwhile the British are leaving it up to the French. Migrants are arriving at a rate of 50 a day, so this can only get worse. It can only end in many more tragedies.’

The warning comes as holidaymakers and hauliers prepare for the prospect of more blockades in Calais by French ferry workers protesting over job losses.

Meetings are taking place between union chiefs and government representatives but, if they stall, industrial action could swiftly resume.

Thousands of lorries were backed up on both sides of the Channel during a strike last week and another blockade will fire the starting gun for sustained attempts by hundreds of migrants to storm the Channel Tunnel and target lorries that are gridlocked in the ensuing chaos. The Freight Transport Association has written to David Cameron warning that matters are ‘spiralling out of control’.

In an open letter yesterday, chief executive David Wells said: ‘It is a tragedy that the deplorable situation in Calais has resulted in a fatality today but it was clear that the issue at the port was spiralling out of control.

‘We have been calling on both the British and French governments to intervene for some time, and are now asking the Prime Minister to give the matter his urgent priority, and to implement plans to alleviate the crisis.’

Security in the French port has deteriorated rapidly over the past few months as more migrants reach the camps. French aid workers have reported a ‘catastrophic’ situation, with predictions that 2,000 more people could arrive over the summer.

The Road Haulage Association has called on the French to deploy troops, while business leaders have been warning of the damage being done to Britain’s economy by the crisis.

Port of Dover officials said last week’s four- day ferry blockade cost the UK economy £1billion and the Fresh Produce Consortium estimates that £10million of fresh fruit and vegetables have been thrown away this year due to the problems in Calais.

Additional reporting from Peter Allen in Calais

‘Spiralling out of control’