Four people, two men and two women, died after trying to cross the English Channel in a small boat which sunk off the coast of Calais
A man has been charged with endangering life after four migrants tragically died trying to board a small boat crossing the English Channel on Thursday, the National Crime Agency said.
Sudanese national, Alnour Mohamed Ali, 27, is alleged to have piloted the boat from France in a bid to get to the UK.
Two men and two women died as they attempted to climb on to a so-called “taxi boat” – another term for a dinghy – at Equihen-Plage, near Boulogne-sur-Mer, on Thursday morning.
Thirty-eight people were returned to the French shore after the incident south of Boulogne-sur-Mer near Calais, but 74 migrants travelled on to the UK. The head of the Pas-de-Calais region, Francois-Xavier Lauch, said the four migrants were “far out to sea” off the coast when their bodies were found by authorities.
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“I have to commend the actions of our officers and firefighters who, as you know, are deployed every day to stop these crossings,” the prefect said at the time pf the incident.
Speaking of the four people who died, he said: “They were already quite far into the sea. The currents, which can be dangerous here, swept them away. This provisional toll – and I insist that it is provisional – states four deceased: two men, two women.
A UK government spokesperson said at the time of the incident: “We are deeply saddened to hear about the deaths in French waters today.
“Every death in the Channel is a tragedy and a stark reminder of the dangers posed by criminal gangs exploiting vulnerable people for profit. We will continue working relentlessly with the French and our partners overseas to prevent these perilous journeys. The French authorities are leading the response to this incident and we are supporting their investigation.”
Ali will appear at Folkestone Magistrates’ Court today.
