The tragedy happened as they were trying to reach the UK from an area of the French coast near the town of Wimereux in the Pas-de-Calais area.
News of the accident emerged just hours after Parliament backed Rishi Sunak’s controversial Rwanda Bill.
The French coastguard confirmed a failed attempt to cross the Channel and reported that a number of a “lifeless bodies” had been found. The fatalities were said to include three men, a woman and a child, said to be a fouryear-old girl.
A coastguard official said more than 100 people were on the small boat, which reportedly initially got stranded on a sand bank. Panic was later said to have broken out on the vessel.
Dany Patoux, of the Osmose 62 refugee charity, said he witnessed the return to shore of a number of migrants, including the four-year-old ’s father. He said: “We knew the little girl well. We have photos with her, with a big smile on her face, in the hope of a better life. Her father fell into our arms right away. He was crying, in a daze. He saw his little daughter die before his eyes.”
This story is from the April 23, 2024 edition of Evening Standard.
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This story is from the April 23, 2024 edition of Evening Standard.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
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