Tragic Loss: Two Migrants Die Attempting English Channel Crossing Near Neufchâtel-Hardelot

In a heartbreaking incident on the night of September 26-27, 2025, two migrants lost their lives while trying to cross the English Channel near Neufchâtel-Hardelot. The attempt involved approximately one hundred migrants who attempted to board a makeshift vessel, highlighting the dangers associated with such perilous crossings.

Authorities reported that around sixty individuals survived the ordeal and are currently receiving assistance from civil protection services, according to Isabelle Fradin-Thirode, the sub-prefect of Montreuil-sur-Mer. This tragic event raises the death toll for clandestine crossings in 2023 to at least 25, based on data compiled by Agence France-Presse (AFP). The surge in fatalities underscores the increasing risks faced by migrants as they undertake these dangerous voyages in overloaded and often chaotic conditions.

Previously, on September 9-10, three migrants were confirmed dead during a similar crossing from Sangatte near Calais, with an additional three others presumed missing at sea during that night. These recent fatalities call attention to the ongoing humanitarian crisis and the pressing need for solutions to manage migration more effectively. The English Channel has long been a hotspot for such dangerous crossings, where migrants often resort to risky methods to reach the UK, resulting in tragic losses.