Some 36,000 migrants attempted to reach England in 2023 by illegally crossing the Channel from the French coast. Of these, 4,900 were “saved at sea with the means of the coastguard function and the SNSM (National Society for Rescue at Sea)’ “We deplore 12 deaths,” said the maritime prefect of the Channel and the North Sea.
On January 14, four migrants died near a beach in Wimereux (North), while trying to reach a boat in freezing water to cross the Channel.