Migrant crossings: One person found dead in France after channel attempt

Image source, PA Media

Image caption, More than 20,000 people so far this year have crossed the channel from France

A migrant has died after an attempt to cross the English Channel, French authorities have confirmed.

The person was found dead on a beach near Calais on Thursday morning, following the discovery of a boat which was full of water.

Two other people were found with them - both suffering from hypothermia, French authorities said.

This is believed to be the third death of a person attempting to reach the UK from France over the past two days.

On Wednesday, a migrant was pulled from the water unconscious and later pronounced dead when rescuers returned to dock in France. A second person has been reported as missing.

The Home Office said that on Wednesday, at least 853 people crossed to the UK on small boats. This is the highest number of crossings recorded in a single day during the current migrant crisis.

The previous highest number of crossings was reported on 21 August when 828 people crossed the Channel.

More than 20,000 migrants have crossed the Channel in small boats so far this year, according to the Home Office.

This is more than double the number of crossings made last year.

On Tuesday, 456 people crossed in 15 boats, with 343 migrants stopped on the French coast.