{"id":198752,"date":"2026-07-30T09:35:45","date_gmt":"2026-07-30T15:05:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newslink360.space\/?p=198752"},"modified":"2026-07-30T09:35:45","modified_gmt":"2026-07-30T15:05:45","slug":"four-people-die-after-busiest-day-for-small-boat-crossings-this-year","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newslink360.space\/?p=198752","title":{"rendered":"Four people die after busiest day for small-boat crossings this year"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Four people died trying to cross the Channel overnight after the busiest day for small-boat crossings so far this year saw 752 arrivals in the UK.<\/b><\/p>\n

One man died after a vessel capsized off France’s northern coast late on Wednesday, local officials said, with a one-year-old child among those hurt.<\/p>\n

Seven hours later, three people were found dead aboard a small boat after launching from Dunkirk overnight, some 100km (62 miles) up the coast.<\/p>\n

French officials confirmed their deaths as the Home Office reported that Wednesday saw the highest number of crossings in a single day this year, with nine boats reaching the UK.<\/p>\n

Local authorities in France said the first boat capsized off the coast at Hardelot around 23:30 local time (21:30 GMT) on Wednesday.<\/p>\n

The man is thought to have been in his 30s or 40s, officials added. Six other people including the child sustained minor injuries.<\/p>\n

Local officials said the vessel was a “taxi” boat – which cruise along the coast and pick up their paying customers who are waiting in the sea<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Security officials “neutralised” the boat and an investigation into the incident has been launched.<\/p>\n

The second boat launched from the Dunkirk area overnight was spotted near a breakwater off the coast at 06:00, the French coastguard said.<\/p>\n

Search and rescue officials subsequently found three unconscious people aboard. Their deaths were later confirmed by emergency medical personnel.<\/p>\n

A UK government spokesperson said: “Every death in the Channel is a tragedy and a stark reminder of the dangers posed by criminal gangs exploiting vulnerable people for profit.”<\/p>\n

Prime Minister Andy Burnham, speaking separately about small boat crossings on Thursday, said the UK had made “significant progress” on reducing the number of arrivals.<\/p>\n

But, asked by reporters about US President Donald Trump’s remark that the UK had a “huge immigration problem”, Burnham said there was much still to do “to get those numbers right down”.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n