Migrant dies trying to cross Channel in small boat

18 April 2025, 12:34 | Updated: 18 April 2025, 14:07

A migrant has died attempting to cross the English Channel in a small boat.

The RNLI confirmed it had launched its all-weather lifeboat and a group of migrants were brought to Dover in a Border Force boat on Friday morning.

A blue forensics tent could be seen outside the Dover Lifeboat Station.

It is unclear how many migrants were on board the small boat.

Kent Police said officers were alerted at 8.26am "after a Border Force patrol responded to a medical emergency on a small boat in the English Channel".

"A man has since been pronounced deceased," the force said.

"Officers have launched an investigation to establish the circumstances leading to the man's death.

"The priority remains to establish the man's identity in order to notify his family.

"Officers are currently at Dover Lifeboat Station while initial inquiries are under way."

Read more from Sky News:
No-fly zone over King's home after drone sightings
Two Britons among four killed in Italy cable car crash
Four-foot-long caiman found and seized by police

The death comes after 705 people arrived in the UK by small boat on Tuesday - a record number for this year.

It is still some way below the highest ever number for a single day, which was 1,305 on 3 September 2022.

The start of 2025 has been the busiest year so far for crossings since records began in 2018.

Figures confirmed earlier this week brought the cumulative number of arrivals in 2025 to a provisional total of 8,888.

(c) Sky News 2025: Migrant dies trying to cross Channel in small boat