One dead, more than 60 rescued, after migrant boat sinks off French coast

One person has died after a boat carrying migrants sank while attempting to cross the English Channel near Boulogne-sur-Mer, according to French officials.

The Maritime Prefect of the Channel and the North Sea said 61 survivors had been rescued overnight after their "overloaded boat" broke up.

The French assistance and rescue intervention tug (RIAS) Abeille Normandie recovered 50 people. The RNLI rescued two people and Border Force another nine - they were all transferred to the Abeille.

In addition, an unconscious person was spotted in the water by a helicopter and recovered by the RNLI lifeboat. They were transferred to the French tug but declared dead by the medical team on board.

Among the survivors was a child and his mother suffering hypothermia, who were airlifted to hospital, while the others were taken to Boulogne-sur-Mer.

Recent figures show the number of people crossing the Channel has continued to rise, passing 10,000 at the end of April.

Sir Keir Starmer has committed his government to "Smash The Gangs" of people smugglers exploiting those who want to travel to the UK by small boat to seek asylum.

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