Baby dies after migrant boat gets into difficulties in the Channel, say French authorities

A baby has died after a boat carrying migrants ran into difficulties in the Channel, French authorities have said.

A total of 65 people were rescued after the migrant boat got into trouble off the coast of Wissant in northern France on Thursday evening.

The boat was found to be heavily loaded with migrants and some were in the water when the rescue team arrived, the maritime prefect of the Channel and the North Sea said.

A French Navy patrol boat and a helicopter were used in the recovery operation.

During the rescue operation an unconscious baby was retrieved from the water and transferred to the Abeille Normandie - an assistance and rescue intervention tug.

The baby was later declared dead by a doctor.

The 65 migrants and the deceased baby were taken to a port in the city of Boulogne-sur-Mer.

The maritime prefect has said weather conditions are often difficult in the area where the boat got into trouble and it is a "particularly dangerous sector" even when the "sea seems beautiful".

Authorities said searches are ongoing to find any more missing people.

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Meanwhile, an investigation has been launched by the public prosecutor's office in Boulogne-sur-Mer.

It comes after four people died, including a two-year-old boy, while attempting to cross the Channel earlier this month.

More than 26,000 migrants have successfully made the crossing to the UK in small boats this year.

A total of 973 migrants made the crossing on Saturday 6 October - the highest daily figure in 2024.

(c) Sky News 2024: Baby dies after migrant boat gets into difficulties in the Channel, say French authorities