Two men dead after attempting small boat English Channel crossing

Two men have died and two women have been injured in an attempt to cross the English Channel in a small boat.

French authorities said the men, one in his 30s and one in his 40s, died after leaving the coast at Berck overnight.

The women were taken to hospital after suffering burns over a large part of their bodies, the authorities said.

A spokesman for the Pas-de-Calais prefecture said: “An investigation has been opened by the Boulogne-sur-Mer public prosecutor’s office to determine the circumstances surrounding the deaths.

“François-Xavier Lauch, Prefect of Pas-de-Calais, thanks all the services involved, particularly the firefighters, for their intervention and commitment during this operation.”

The deaths came as migrants who arrived in Hampshire amid scenes of protest were taken to Kent to be processed.

A number of people were seen arriving at a marina in Gosport, having been transported aboard two RNLI boats late on Sunday evening.

The dinghy was being shadowed by French rescue vessels until it was met by the RNLI boats in English waters, according to ship tracking data.

The Home Office said 149 migrants were believed to be on board.

Twelve people were arrested for offences including assaulting a police officer following the protest.

Hampshire Police said around 350 people left Haslar Road near the marina at around 2am on Monday after the migrants were brought ashore by coastguard, lifeboat and border security staff.

Demonstrators during an anti-migrant protest in Gosport (Trevor Adams/PA)

PA Wire

The force imposed conditions under the Public Order Act as well as powers prohibiting the wearing of face coverings.

The Gosport arrivals were among 418 migrants who came to the UK on Sunday in five separate boats, taking the total for the year to 19,869.

Downing Street insisted “real progress” had been made in tackling small boat crossings.

The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: “Crossings are down significantly – 44% on last year – and this summer saw the lowest number of small boat arrivals in six years.

“We’ve removed more than 80,000 people with no right to be here since the election, an increase of 52%.”