Two migrants have died in separate but deeply concerning incidents along the northern French coast, highlighting the increasing dangers faced by people trying to reach the United Kingdom by boat. The first death happened on Saturday when a man reportedly suffered a cardiac arrest while on board a small boat attempting to cross the English Channel.
French authorities confirmed that the boat had left the coast early that morning but soon turned back. It remains unclear if the man’s medical emergency was the reason for the boat’s return. When it arrived back at shore near Boulogne-sur-Mer, emergency teams found the man in cardiac arrest. Despite efforts by a nurse from Doctors Without Borders (MSF) to resuscitate him on the beach, he sadly passed away.
Local officials from Pas-de-Calais have launched an investigation to understand the exact cause of the man’s death. This latest tragedy brings the number of migrants who have died while trying to reach the UK in 2025 to 18, according to the French Interior Ministry. Many of the boats used are not strong enough to survive the dangerous waters of the Channel and often turn back or fail mid-journey.
On the same day, across the water in the United Kingdom, a group of migrants were rescued by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI). They were found huddled under blankets and wearing life jackets before being taken to Dover Port in Kent. According to the UK Home Office, nearly 24,000 migrants have made the dangerous journey across the Channel by small boats so far in 2025—a record high.
Meanwhile, a separate violent incident took place at a migrant camp in Loon Plage, near Grand-Synthe close to Dunkirk, also on the northern French coast. A migrant in his thirties was shot and killed, reportedly hit by at least seven bullets from a gun. The gunman fired about 20 shots in total, according to local reports.
Emergency services arrived at the scene but were unable to save the man. The local newspaper La Voix du Nord reported that the victim died on the spot. The motive behind the killing is still unknown, but the attack has added to growing tensions between migrant groups living in encampments as they await irregular attempts to cross into the UK.
Over the past few months, violence and shootings have increased in these migrant camps. In June, a gunfight between different groups left one person dead and five others injured, raising alarm over safety conditions in the camps. Authorities believe rival smuggling networks and rising desperation among migrants are contributing to the violence.
In response to the crisis, British and French officials are working more closely to prevent people smuggling and improve border controls. But the continued deaths and violence show how dangerous the route has become. As both governments promise tougher action, many migrants remain stranded in unsafe camps, facing not only harsh conditions but also growing threats to their lives.