Migrant from Sudan drowns in Channel as 32 are rescued
ONE man died and about 32 other people were rescued in the Channel after their boat ran into difficulties while trying to cross from northern France to Britain yesterday, French officials said.
The victim is believed to be in his 20s and from Sudan, the prosecutor’s office in Boulogne-sur-mer said, adding that the others had been rescued in waters off the village of Berck. It launched an investigation into manslaughter over the death.
The victim is the first to die in the Channel since 27 lost their lives on Nov 24 in the worst mass drowning in the waters since the Second World War.
According to the Channel and North Sea prefecture, 32 people, all young men, tried to cross the Channel from Sternes near Berck, south of Le Touquet, in a “semi-rigid boat” and were caught in strong tidal currents. Most were towed back in their stricken boat but five of the men were taken off sandbanks.
The Sudanese man fell into the water and drowned. The remainder were described as “safe and sound”, although suffering from hypothermia.
Survivors said that two or three other men might be missing.
A search operation, with a helicopter and at least two boats involved, is continuing.
The prefecture said in a statement: “After an air investigation, no other people were observed.”
According to a local official, some 250 migrants arrived in the Berck-merlimont-le Touquet area two days ago. Some made an unsuccessful attempted crossing from Le Touquet on Thursday. Two Syrian suspected smugglers were arrested.
Some of the 50 or so migrants saved on Thursday were on the boat rescued yesterday.
A record 28,000 migrants crossed the Channel from France to the UK in small boats last year, causing major diplomatic tensions between the two countries.
The location of the rescued boat yesterday underlines how peoplesmuggling gangs are organising their operations over a wider area of the northern French coast.
Berck is 37 miles south of Calais, a long-standing hub for migrants where French police efforts to stop the dinghies leaving are concentrated.