Dozens of migrants were rescued from the Channel after another disaster (Image: PA)
A migrant died after a dinghy deflated in the middle of the English Channel, plunging dozens of people into the water. The woman was winched out of the water by a Coastguard helicopter and flown back to Dover.
But she was pronounced dead at the scene despite emergency crews administering CPR. Sources have told the Daily Express the migrant dinghy collapsed as it reached UK waters, triggering a huge emergency operation involving Border Force, the Coastguard and RNLI. They claimed the woman who lost her life was "crushed".
Article continues belowADVERTISEMENT
MD: Building Muscle After 60 Comes Down To This 1 Thingprimenutritionsecrets |
Undo
DON'T MISS
Powered by
Migrant boat sinking LIVE: At least one dead as helicopters scramble to Channel tragedy
Downing Street breaks silence after migrants 'make it to Dover undetected'
A nightmare on Marsham Street? Shabana Mahmood must do these things to end Channel crisis
French have 'blood on their hands' after migrants crushed to death in fatal crossings
Tragedy as 3 people 'including 2 children' die on small boat crossing English Channel
Labour's 'full-blown borders crisis' as UNESCORTED migrant boat lands on UK shores
Moment Labour minister is torn to shreds in fiery Sky News migration row
Migrant fury as almost 90% of men crossing English Channel illegally are 'fighting age'
Channel migrants now outnumber entire British Armed Forces, shocking data shows
Elderly man rescued from boat after being at sea for 45 days
Urgent probe launched after migrant boat feared to have reached Kent beach
Hundreds of migrants enter UK by dinghy on the new Home Secretary's first day
Keir Starmer's got a new plan for migrants - but it's as hopeless as all his other ones
Starmer 'to move migrants into ex military barracks' as Labour 'seeks deal with Germany'
Number of Channel migrant arrivals surges past Army, Navy and RAF combined
Small boat horror as five illegal immigrants killed in crash with coastguard
Home Office to fork out millions on ready meals and crisps for small boat asylum seekers
'Secret hint' Prince Harry will make another surprise appearance in a few days time
As 3,567 migrants cross Channel since UK-France deal Labour admits ZERO have been returned
Prince Harry leaves King Charles meeting 54 minutes after arriving at Clarence House
Migrant boat sinking LIVE: At least one dead as helicopters scramble to Channel tragedy
Downing Street breaks silence after migrants 'make it to Dover undetected'
A nightmare on Marsham Street? Shabana Mahmood must do these things to end Channel crisis
French have 'blood on their hands' after migrants crushed to death in fatal crossings
Tragedy as 3 people 'including 2 children' die on small boat crossing English Channel
Labour's 'full-blown borders crisis' as UNESCORTED migrant boat lands on UK shores
Moment Labour minister is torn to shreds in fiery Sky News migration row
Migrant fury as almost 90% of men crossing English Channel illegally are 'fighting age'
Channel migrants now outnumber entire British Armed Forces, shocking data shows
Elderly man rescued from boat after being at sea for 45 days
Urgent probe launched after migrant boat feared to have reached Kent beach
Hundreds of migrants enter UK by dinghy on the new Home Secretary's first day
Keir Starmer's got a new plan for migrants - but it's as hopeless as all his other ones
Starmer 'to move migrants into ex military barracks' as Labour 'seeks deal with Germany'
Number of Channel migrant arrivals surges past Army, Navy and RAF combined
Small boat horror as five illegal immigrants killed in crash with coastguard
Home Office to fork out millions on ready meals and crisps for small boat asylum seekers
'Secret hint' Prince Harry will make another surprise appearance in a few days time
As 3,567 migrants cross Channel since UK-France deal Labour admits ZERO have been returned
Prince Harry leaves King Charles meeting 54 minutes after arriving at Clarence House
Migrant boat sinking LIVE: At least one dead as helicopters scramble to Channel tragedy
Downing Street breaks silence after migrants 'make it to Dover undetected'
A nightmare on Marsham Street? Shabana Mahmood must do these things to end Channel crisis
French have 'blood on their hands' after migrants crushed to death in fatal crossings
Tragedy as 3 people 'including 2 children' die on small boat crossing English Channel
Labour's 'full-blown borders crisis' as UNESCORTED migrant boat lands on UK shores
Moment Labour minister is torn to shreds in fiery Sky News migration row
Migrant fury as almost 90% of men crossing English Channel illegally are 'fighting age'
Channel migrants now outnumber entire British Armed Forces, shocking data shows
Elderly man rescued from boat after being at sea for 45 days
Urgent probe launched after migrant boat feared to have reached Kent beach
Hundreds of migrants enter UK by dinghy on the new Home Secretary's first day
Keir Starmer's got a new plan for migrants - but it's as hopeless as all his other ones
Starmer 'to move migrants into ex military barracks' as Labour 'seeks deal with Germany'
Number of Channel migrant arrivals surges past Army, Navy and RAF combined
Small boat horror as five illegal immigrants killed in crash with coastguard
Home Office to fork out millions on ready meals and crisps for small boat asylum seekers
'Secret hint' Prince Harry will make another surprise appearance in a few days time
As 3,567 migrants cross Channel since UK-France deal Labour admits ZERO have been returned
Prince Harry leaves King Charles meeting 54 minutes after arriving at Clarence House
Read more: English Channel rescue operation launched as Coast Guard helicopter scrambled
Read more: Urgent probe launched after migrant boat feared to have reached UK beach
Read more: Politics LIVE – First Cabinet minister enters race to replace Angela Rayner
The migrant vessel was being shadowed by the French at the time, this newspaper understands.
Witnesses also claimed the French did not intervene and waited for the British Border Force vessels and RNLI to arrive.
Powered By
10 Sec
London protests: Police block protesters
Next
Stay
More than 500 people are believed to have attempted the crossing on Tuesday – just days after 1,097 were detected.
Sponsored
Get Quote
Here’s What US Homeowners Pay For Leaf-Free Gutters
Undo
A government spokesperson said: “We can confirm that Border Force responded to reports of a migrant boat in distress in the Channel at 12.45pm. One passenger was found unresponsive and was given CPR. Sadly, we can now confirm that this individual has died.
“We are shocked and saddened by this tragic incident. Our immediate thoughts are with all of those who have been affected.
“This latest tragedy underlines the terrible dangers of small boat crossings, and we continue to do everything we can to prevent callous criminals exploiting vulnerable people.”
It comes as the Home Office launched a separate investigation into claims migrants successfully reached the Kent coast on Saturday.
French vessels generally escort the migrants’ dinghies once they are in the sea to the Channel median line before they are picked up by Border Force, RNLI or Coastguard boats to be brought back to Dover.
But the discovery of five men near Deal, Kent, has prompted fears that migrants successfully evaded Border Force and the French.
A helicopter was scrambled to the scene (Image: PA)
Hundreds of migrants crossed the Channel on Tuesday (Image: PA)
They have all been detained.
A Downing Street spokesman said on Tuesday: “The circumstance of their arrival is still being investigated, and there hasn't been a conclusion to that investigation.
“I don’t want to get ahead of the investigation, but obviously the Home Office will keep their data updated, consistent with the results of their investigation.”
Asked why the investigation had not been made public, the spokesman replied: “Well, that’s because there’s an investigation, which we don’t have the results of and therefore can’t provide any commentary … once the investigation has concluded, we’ll provide that update.”
The French are under intense pressure to finally start intercepting migrant boats in the water.
This would make it far harder for people smugglers to launch so-called taxi boats.
And Home Office officials have drawn up a series of other proposals to stop migrant dinghies reaching UK waters.
One option under consideration could see British vessels blocking asylum seekers from crossing the median line.
Migrants would then be picked up and taken back to France, Bloomberg reports.
However, the proposal would need the backing of the French Government and securing such an agreement could prove tricky.
New Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood is also said to be considering the idea of constructing a barrier in the Channel and removing the need for the Coastguard to automatically rescue any small boat in its waters.
More than 30,000 migrants have crossed this year, with the number of arrivals surging at a record pace.
The UK is considering suspending visas from countries that do not “play ball” and agree migrant deportation deals, Ms Mahmood declared.
DON'T MISS
Powered by
Moment Labour minister is torn to shreds in fiery Sky News migration row
Migrant fury as almost 90% of men crossing English Channel illegally are 'fighting age'
Channel migrants now outnumber entire British Armed Forces, shocking data shows
Elderly man rescued from boat after being at sea for 45 days
Urgent probe launched after migrant boat feared to have reached Kent beach
Hundreds of migrants enter UK by dinghy on the new Home Secretary's first day
Keir Starmer's got a new plan for migrants - but it's as hopeless as all his other ones
Starmer 'to move migrants into ex military barracks' as Labour 'seeks deal with Germany'
Number of Channel migrant arrivals surges past Army, Navy and RAF combined
Small boat horror as five illegal immigrants killed in crash with coastguard
Home Office to fork out millions on ready meals and crisps for small boat asylum seekers
'Secret hint' Prince Harry will make another surprise appearance in a few days time
As 3,567 migrants cross Channel since UK-France deal Labour admits ZERO have been returned
Prince Harry leaves King Charles meeting 54 minutes after arriving at Clarence House
Here's What a Dental Implant Might Cost You in 2025 (See Price List)Dental Implants | Search Ads |
Read More
Undo
Migrant boat sinking LIVE: At least one dead as helicopters scramble to Channel tragedy
Downing Street breaks silence after migrants 'make it to Dover undetected'
Memory Decline? Research Shows What Can HelpMindHealth Daily |
Undo
A nightmare on Marsham Street? Shabana Mahmood must do these things to end Channel crisis
French have 'blood on their hands' after migrants crushed to death in fatal crossings
MD: Building Muscle After 60 Comes Down To This 1 Thingprimenutritionsecrets |
Undo
Tragedy as 3 people 'including 2 children' die on small boat crossing English Channel
Labour's 'full-blown borders crisis' as UNESCORTED migrant boat lands on UK shores
The New Black Forest CollectionYETI |
Shop Now
Undo
Moment Labour minister is torn to shreds in fiery Sky News migration row
Migrant fury as almost 90% of men crossing English Channel illegally are 'fighting age'
20% Off Lowcountry Peach CollectionYETI |
Shop Now
Undo
Channel migrants now outnumber entire British Armed Forces, shocking data shows
Elderly man rescued from boat after being at sea for 45 days
One San Jose Bank Is Paying Record High Interest Rates - See the ListSavingsPro |
Undo
Urgent probe launched after migrant boat feared to have reached Kent beach
Hundreds of migrants enter UK by dinghy on the new Home Secretary's first day
Cardiologist: Strong Arms After 50 Comes Down To Thisprimenutritionsecrets |
Undo
Keir Starmer's got a new plan for migrants - but it's as hopeless as all his other ones
Starmer 'to move migrants into ex military barracks' as Labour 'seeks deal with Germany'
Online Apartment Finders May Help SeniorsSenior Apartment Finder |
Learn More
Undo
Number of Channel migrant arrivals surges past Army, Navy and RAF combined
Small boat horror as five illegal immigrants killed in crash with coastguard
Why Living Alone After 65 Affects Your MindBrain Health |
Learn More
Undo
Home Office to fork out millions on ready meals and crisps for small boat asylum seekers
'Secret hint' Prince Harry will make another surprise appearance in a few days time
MD: Building Muscle After 60 Comes Down To This 1 Thingprimenutritionsecrets |
Undo
As 3,567 migrants cross Channel since UK-France deal Labour admits ZERO have been returned
Prince Harry leaves King Charles meeting 54 minutes after arriving at Clarence House
Migrant boat sinking LIVE: At least one dead as helicopters scramble to Channel tragedy
Downing Street breaks silence after migrants 'make it to Dover undetected'
A nightmare on Marsham Street? Shabana Mahmood must do these things to end Channel crisis
French have 'blood on their hands' after migrants crushed to death in fatal crossings
Tragedy as 3 people 'including 2 children' die on small boat crossing English Channel
Labour's 'full-blown borders crisis' as UNESCORTED migrant boat lands on UK shores
Moment Labour minister is torn to shreds in fiery Sky News migration row
Migrant fury as almost 90% of men crossing English Channel illegally are 'fighting age'
Channel migrants now outnumber entire British Armed Forces, shocking data shows
Elderly man rescued from boat after being at sea for 45 days
Urgent probe launched after migrant boat feared to have reached Kent beach
Hundreds of migrants enter UK by dinghy on the new Home Secretary's first day
Keir Starmer's got a new plan for migrants - but it's as hopeless as all his other ones
One San Jose Bank Is Paying Record High...SavingsPro
Undo
Sponsored LinksSponsored Links
Cardiologist: Strong Arms After 50 Comes Dow...primenutritionsecrets
Undo
Sponsored LinksSponsored Links
Why Living Alone After 65 Affects Your MindBrain Health
Undo
Sponsored LinksSponsored Links
Renew Your Passport From Home — Here's How.GovPlus
Undo
Sponsored LinksSponsored Links
The new Home Secretary warned that countries must take back foreign criminals, failed asylum seekers and visa overstayers.
And Ms Mahmood vowed to do "whatever it takes" to stop small boat crossings, adding she will go “further and faster” than Yvette Cooper.
A staggering 1,097 asylum seekers crossed the Channel in 17 boats on Saturday – Ms Mahmood’s first day in office.
Read next