Toddler ‘trampled to death’ as migrants try to cross English Channel
Al Jazeera
At least four people, including a two-year-old, die in two attempts to cross the channel on crowded boats.
A two-year-old has been crushed to death and three other people have been killed in two attempts to cross the English Channel using overcrowded boats, French authorities say.
“A child was trampled to death,” French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau said on X on Saturday. “… The smugglers have the blood of these people on their hands, and our government will intensify the fight against these gangs who enrich themselves by organising these deadly crossings.”
The body of the toddler was found in a boat on Saturday, and three adult immigrants were killed while seeking to reach British shores in another boat, Jacques Billant, prefect of the Pas-de-Calais region, was quoted as saying by the AFP news agency.
A dinghy carrying the toddler issued a call for assistance on Saturday morning that was picked up by a French tow vessel, the Abeille Normandie. Officials said that from 8am to 9am [06:00 to 07:00 GMT], the vessel took 14 people on board, including the deceased.
French officials clarified that the incident was not a shipwreck and the deceased child was found inside the boat rather than in the water. The other passengers continued their journey.
