Man confirmed dead after crossing English Channel in small boat
Police are investigating after a person died while travelling to the UK on a cross-Channel dinghy on Friday after a 'medical emergency' on board.
It was the second death reported in the Channel in two days, although the body found earlier on Thursday has not yet been formally identified, so it is not known whether they were also making a crossing.
Friday's death is the first confirmed since last month. According to the International Organisation for Migration, between 11 January and 20 March this year there have been 10 deaths in the Channel.
A Kent police spokesperson said: 'Kent police was called at 8.26am on Friday 18 April 2025 after a Border Force patrol responded to a medical emergency on a small boat in the English Channel. A man has since been pronounced deceased. Officers have launched an investigation to establish the circumstances leading to the man's death.
'The priority remains to establish the man's identity in order to notify his family. Officers are currently at Dover Lifeboat Station while initial inquiries are under way.'
A UK government spokesperson said: 'This morning, Border Force responded to a medical emergency on board a small boat entering UK waters. It is with regret that we can confirm one individual has died, and our thoughts are with them and their loved ones.
'Investigations are ongoing and it would be inappropriate to comment further at this time, but we want to thank those who responded to this incident and who continue to work tirelessly to secure our borders and protect lives at sea.'
In relation to the discovery of a body in the Channel on Thursday, a police spokesperson said: 'Kent police was called at 7.40am on Thursday 17 April 2025, after a body of a man was located by a Border Force patrol in the English Channel, around two miles out from Dover. Police inquiries are ongoing to establish the man's nationality and identity.'
As of Thursday, a record 9,099 people have crossed the Channel so far this year. Figures for the first four months of 2022 were 6,691 people, and for the same period in 2023, 5,946 people, and for the first four months of 2024, 7,567 people. The highest number crossing in a single day so far this year was 705 people in 12 boats on 14 April.
The government has pledged to 'smash' the people-smuggling gangs and has announced a new initiative to do so.
British and French government officials are in talks about a 'migrant swap' pilot scheme in which some migrants who cross the Channel in small boats will be returned to France. In return, the UK will take others who are eligible for refugee family reunion.
Announcing this plan a Home Office spokesperson said: 'We have already secured agreement from the French to deploy a new elite unit of officers at the coast, launch a specialist intelligence unit, increase police numbers and introduce new powers for the French authorities to intervene in shallow waters.'
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