Three die in Channel crossing stampede on overcrowded boat off French coast

Overcrowded dinghy encounters trouble off northern France

A 10-year-old child and two women in their 30s died on Monday during an attempt to cross the English Channel from northern France to Britain. French authorities reported that the victims were crushed on an overcrowded inflatable boat carrying 105 people. The dinghy ran into difficulty in calm sea conditions after setting out from the northern French coast near Bleriot Plage and Wissant. Smugglers operated the vessel as a taxi boat, picking up passengers who waded into shallow waters from the beach. An emergency medical team was flown in by helicopter to the French maritime rescue vessel, where personnel declared the three victims dead.

François-Xavier Lauch, the prefect of Pas-de-Calais, addressed the findings during a press conference.

Apparently there was no drowning, it was likely crushing which is just as dreadful, especially if we think of the 10-year-old child.

Rescue operation and investigation

The rescue vessel docked at the port of Calais in mid-morning to disembark the surviving passengers, nine of whom required non-critical medical treatment. By 10:30 local time, six rescue boats were operating in the area to check for any individuals remaining in the water. The public prosecutor in Boulogne-sur-Mer opened a judicial investigation to determine the exact circumstances of the stampede. The incident followed a pattern of chaotic departures along the coastline, where three bodies were recovered the previous week. In a separate incident on Monday in Gravelines, French police slashed an inflatable dinghy and deployed tear gas to disperse a large group of migrants before they could launch.

Crossing volumes and maritime security measures

According to British Home Office figures, 18,609 people had successfully crossed the English Channel in 2026 by late September. That total represents a 42% decrease compared to the 32,188 recorded in the same period of 2025, and a 26% drop from the 25,165 recorded by that point in 2024. In the full year of 2025, more than 41,000 people crossed and at least 29 lost their lives, while at least 17 deaths have occurred in the Channel during 2026. Despite the year-on-year drop in total arrivals, more than 700 people reached the United Kingdom on Wednesday, marking the highest single-day total of the year. Following two uncontrolled small-boat landings on British shores last week, UK Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood ordered an urgent review by the Border Security Command.

Cross-Channel political reactions

The official spokesperson for the British Prime Minister responded to the deaths on Monday, describing the event as a reminder of the risks of human smuggling.

We're deeply saddened to hear about the deaths in France today. It is a stark reminder of the dangers posed by the criminal gangs who exploit vulnerable people for profit, and we will continue to work relentlessly. It's the Prime Minister's promise to do more to prevent these perilous journeys from happening.

Hours after the rescue, Pope Leo gave a speech in the northeastern French city of Metz, calling on Europeans to welcome migrants fleeing war and persecution. Small-boat crossings remain central to political debates in both countries, following an April agreement between France and the United Kingdom to increase intelligence sharing and coastal policing resources.