Migrant dies during small boat crossing in latest English Channel tragedy

Another migrant has died attempting to cross the English Channel, the Daily Express understands. The asylum seeker's body was brought to Dover harbour, along with dozens of other migrants, early on Friday morning.

Border Force personnel on the Typhoon rescue vessel attempted to resuscitate the migrant, performing CPR. But a Coastguard team boarded Typhoon, carrying a backboard stretcher, as the ship arrived back in Dover.

The body was taken up a main gangway into a blue forensics tent next. It takes the death toll this year to eight.

At least 78 people died last year, while some charities warned the death toll may have been higher.

Home Office figures revealed 211 migrants arrived on three boats on Thursday - an average of 70 per boat.

Some 705 migrants arrived in the UK on Tuesday after crossing the English Channel on 12 boats. It is the highest number of arrivals on a single day so far this year.

The cumulative number of arrivals by small boats in 2025 now stands at a provisional total of 9,099.

This is 42% higher than at the same point last year, when the total stood at 6.265, and 81% higher than at this stage in 2023, when the total was 4,899.

Home Office insiders believe the overcrowding of dinghies was "one of the starkest and most dangerous features" of crossings in 2024.

They added that this has led to a record number of tragedies.

Sources believe many of the deaths are because of migrants suffocating as the boat folds in on itself when it begins to deflate.

Others drown when the boat breaks down because it is so overcrowded.

Since 2018, the Home Office has recorded 45 days with crossings where the average occupancy was over 60.

Officials have found that 80% came last year, while 60% were between July and December.