One dead, 72 rescued from migrant boat near Gravelines trying to reach UK

A small boat carrying people trying to reach the UK has been seized with one person reported dead and 72 more rescued from the vessel carrying over 110 people.

According to the French coastguard, a rescue vessel monitored a boat in the Gravelines area from Thursday to Friday. The crew successfully found one person on the board who needed CPR and a rescue helicopter was dispatched but the individual was confirmed dead.

The statement released from the Prefecture maritime de la Manche et de la mer du Nord stated that three people were found injured including one who required emergency treatment. This came after 494 migrants arrived in the UK on Thursday.

The report from the Press Association analysis of Government data showed that the seven boats that made the crossing were the first since August 17 when 250 people reportedly arrived.

In this connection, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said: “That is why I have boosted enforcement on the French beaches and overseas and introduced new legislation to tackle the pull factors that draw people here through unsafe and illegal routes.”

Given the serious situation ongoing, ministers are working to continue closing hotels housing asylum seekers as part of a significant move toward using larger sites such as former military quarters.

In addition, government figures released on Thursday show that there were 16,000 asylum seekers living in Home Office hotels this past June, a reduction of 50 per cent from a year earlier.