19-Year-Old Man Crushed to Death Attempting English Channel Crossing
A tragic incident occurred as a young man was killed while trying to cross the English Channel in a small boat
Sangatte, Calais, English Channel, France, Migrants, Tragedy
Sangatte: A heartbreaking incident unfolded when a 19-year-old man lost his life while trying to cross the English Channel. This happened early Saturday morning.
The young man was on a small boat packed with around 60 people. They set off from Sangatte, near Calais, but things quickly went wrong. The boat started leaking, and water began to fill it up.
In the chaos, about 30 people ended up in the water. When the police arrived, they made a grim discovery. A Syrian man was found on the boat, unresponsive and in serious trouble.
Authorities believe he may have been crushed by the other passengers during the panic. Thankfully, 35 others were rescued by a helicopter and coast guard, but it was a tough scene.
This tragic event marks the first death in 2025 during attempts to cross this dangerous route. The English Channel is known for its busy shipping traffic and rough waters.
A UK Government spokesperson expressed their condolences, highlighting the dangers of these crossings. They emphasized the need to prevent such tragedies, pointing out that smugglers only care about profit.
Last year saw a record number of deaths during these crossings, with 77 lives lost. The situation is dire, and it’s clear that crossing the Channel in small boats is incredibly risky.
Despite the dangers, many still attempt the journey. In 2022, over 45,000 people crossed, but this year, only 61 have made it so far due to bad weather.
The issue was recently discussed by UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron, showing just how serious this situation has become.