French authorities reported that one individual was found unresponsive on a boat carrying 86 people, with five of them falling into the water.
The incident occurred while a patrol boat was monitoring the vessel as it encountered difficulties.
The tragedy in the English Channel unfolded overnight, resulting in one fatality among the migrants on board.
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According to French officials, the 86 individuals on the boat initially resisted assistance when the patrol boat PSP Cormoran identified the vessel in distress. At approximately 12:58 am, as the heavily laden boat began to flounder, several people fell into the sea.
Rescue teams promptly intervened, pulling five individuals from the water and transferring all 86 migrants to their patrol boat.
Upon rescuing the passengers, one person was discovered unresponsive and was administered first aid immediately. Despite efforts, the individual was later pronounced dead. The remaining 85 migrants were safely transported to Calais, where they received further support from rescuers.
This incident marks the second such tragedy in three days. Earlier, another person perished when a boat carrying 72 migrants deflated in the Channel on Wednesday afternoon. During that rescue, 59 individuals were taken aboard the PSP Cormoran, including an unconscious person who could not be revived.
Additionally, the British Border Force vessel, Ranger, rescued 13 people from the water, and both groups were transported to Calais.
The French coastguard continued searching the area until nightfall but found no additional survivors.
Amidst these operations, the UK Home Office denied any change in policy following reports that the Border Force vessel had returned migrants to Calais for the first time. It was clarified that the migrants were brought to the French port at the request of French authorities and that, under international maritime obligations, UK vessels routinely take rescued individuals to the nearest safe port.
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