A migrant passed away on Sunday while attempting to cross the Channel from France to Britain on an overcrowded boat. Authorities reported that despite the tragic incident, dozens of people on the vessel refused to be rescued and continued their journey towards England.
This marked the seventh migrant death in the Channel since July 12, with the French maritime prefecture highlighting a new issue of migrants perishing from the cramped conditions on boats rather than drowning.
The maritime authority mentioned that 75 individuals were aboard the small boat, which was first spotted near the port of Calais early on Sunday.
Rescuers managed to save 35 individuals, including one person who appeared lifeless and was airlifted to a hospital in Boulogne-sur-Mer, where they were later declared deceased.
Despite the rescue, some individuals on the boat refused to return to France and chose to continue their journey towards England. The exact circumstances of the boat’s arrival in England remain unclear.
Authorities decided not to intervene further due to the risks involved in forcing the individuals to return, such as falling overboard or sustaining injuries.
– Crush ‘phenomenon’ –
The statement from the maritime authority pointed out a concerning new trend of individuals dying at sea not by drowning, but due to illness or being crushed on overcrowded boats.
Prior incidents in July also claimed the lives of several individuals attempting to reach Britain via the Channel, with the death toll for 2024 already surpassing that of the previous year.
Various charities and NGOs have criticized the handling of the situation, calling for safer options for asylum seekers and emphasizing the need for cooperation between governments to address the issue.
Efforts are being made to disrupt the operations of human trafficking rings organizing these crossings and profiting from the desperation of migrants.
Recent data from the UK government showed a significant increase in the number of migrants arriving in England via small boats in the Channel, with authorities on both sides working to address the situation.
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