Toddler crushed to death crossing Channel to Britain, French officials say

In two separate tragedies, maritime authorities retrived the body of a two-year-old who had been crushed to death and three adults who had also "probably" been crushed in overcrowded boats trying to cross the Channel, French officials said on Saturday. French and British politicians called to "intensify the fight" against people smugglers.

A two-year-old child was crushed to death and several adult migrants died in two separate tragedies overnight when their overcrowded boats tried to cross the Channel to Britain, French officials said Saturday.

The child was found in an overloaded dinghy when migrants issued a call for assistance on Saturday morning. The boat was carrying nearly 90 people and suffered engine failure off the coast of Boulogne-sur-Mer in northern France.

Citing initial information, regional prosecutor Guirec Le Bras said the child was "crushed" to death.

Fourteen other migrants were picked up by French authorities including a 17-year-old teenager who had to be hospitalised with burns to his legs, officials said. The other passengers continued their journey.

French authorities say they seek to stop people taking to the water but do not intervene once they are afloat except for rescue purposes, citing safety concerns.

Another boat overcrowded with migrants also suffered engine failure off the coast of Calais, leading to panic. Some migrants fell into the sea and were rescued.

The interior ministers of France and Britain condemned the "appalling" tragedies.


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