Migrant man dies trying to cross the English Channel after small boat deflates

An Indian man astir 40 years aged has died successful bluish France aft nan inflated vessel he and different migrants had boarded to transverse nan English Channel deflated

PARIS -- An Indian man astir 40 years aged died connected Sunday greeting successful bluish France aft nan inflated vessel he and different migrants had boarded to transverse nan English Channel deflated, French authorities said successful a statement.

This twelvemonth is proving to beryllium nan deadliest for migrants’ crossing attempts aboard mini boats since numbers began surging successful 2018, according to nan maritime prefecture that oversees French waters successful nan channel. The man’s decease Sunday pushed this year's tally truthful acold to 56.

Around 5:30 a.m. section time, a group of migrants launched their mini vessel disconnected nan municipality of Tardinghen, immoderate 15 miles (25 kilometers) westbound of Calais.

The boat, which “appeared to beryllium successful very mediocre condition," deflated instantly aft departure, nan connection said. “Migrants ... returned to nan formation swimming but not everyone was equipped pinch a life jacket.”

The Indian man had a cardiac arrest. Police gave him a cardiac massage connected nan beach, nan connection said, but could not resuscitate him. A enquiry has been opened.

This was conscionable 1 of galore attempts by migrants to transverse nan transmission since upwind improved connected Monday. Local authorities registered 57 attempts since then, 32 of which were stopped by rule enforcement.

The French seashore astir Calais has agelong been a jumping-off constituent for group fleeing conflict and poorness astir nan world seeking to scope Britain, often via vulnerable and sometimes deadly oversea journeys crossed 1 of nan world’s busiest shipping channels.

Europe’s progressively strict asylum rules, increasing xenophobia and dispute curen of migrants are pushing galore migrants north. While nan U.K. authorities has been hostile, too, galore migrants person family aliases friends successful nan U.K. and a cognition they will person much opportunities there.