A woman has died this afternoon while attempting to cross the English Channel in a boat carrying asylum seekers.
The dinghy was just 10 miles off the coast of Dover, Kent, when it suffered what the authorities are describing as a ‘catastrophic deflation.
The UK Coastguard deployed a Border Force vessel, two lifeboats and a helicopter to the scene – and issued a mayday call to other shipping in the area.
The woman was airlifted to Dover, but was pronounced dead, Kent Police said.
A spokesperson added: ‘Kent Police was made aware by the coastguard of an incident in the Channel involving a small boat just after 1pm.
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‘One woman was airlifted back to shore, where she was pronounced dead.
‘Officers are conducting enquiries to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident.’
How many people have died crossing the Channel in 2025?
At least 20 people have died this year while attempting to make the treacherous journey.
That takes the total number of migrants who have lost their lives since 2018 to 249.
The data, which is valid as of August 11, was released by the International Organization for Migration (IOM), a UN agency, which tracks the number of people who die in the Channel.
Footage shows people arriving at the Kent port and disembarking from Border Force boats.
A coastguard emergency helicopter was also pictured flying above the area.
A Maritime and Coastguard Agency spokesperson had said earlier: ‘HM Coastguard sent UK Border Force vessels, RNLI lifeboats, and HM Coastguard aircraft, in response to small boat activity reported in the Channel.’
A Border Force boat, carrying suspected migrants thought to have been picked up during the rescue operation, arrived in the Port of Dover just after 3pm.
People, including some children, were seen leaving the ship wearing orange life vests and being met by officials.
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