Migrant woman dies attempting to cross Channel in small boat

A migrant has been found dead in a small boat off the coast of Kent.Officers from Kent Police were called to the Western Docks, Dover where the woman was pronounced dead at the scene.Border Security Command Maritime responded to reports of a small boat which entered UK waters.Exclusive footage from GB News showed forensic investigators examining the dinghy. TRENDING Stories Videos Your Say A Government spokesman told GB News: This afternoon, Border Security Command Maritime responded to a small boat that entered UK waters.On intercepting this boat, a migrant was found to be unresponsive. Despite medical assistance, we are deeply saddened to confirm that they have since died. Our thoughts are with all those affected. This latest tragedy underlines the terrible dangers of small boat crossings. We continue to work relentlessly with the French and our partners overseas to prevent these perilous journeys.A Kent Police spokesman said: Kent Police officers are conducting initial enquiries following the death of a woman on a small boat on Saturday June 20, 2026.Officers were called to the Western Docks, Dover at 3.11pm, along with other emergency services where the woman was pronounced deceased.The woman becomes the latest migrant to die while attempting the dangerous Channel crossing.On Saturday, GB News revealed that more than 10,000 migrants crossed the Channel this year.LATEST ON THE MIGRANT CRISIS:Thousands of small boat migrants set to be crammed into homes alongside social housing tenantsChris Philp confesses to 'terrible mistakes' on immigration and promises radical change to GB NewsIllegal migrants make record 22-hour Channel crossing as hundreds arrive in UKOn Saturday alone, 236 small boat migrants were taken into the Kent port.Earlier this week, French authorities said they had intercepted two-thirds of all attempted migrant crossings.As part of the £662million deal between the UK and France, two French specialist immigration enforcement teams have been deployed.This includes a dedicated riot unit and 125 specialist officers and reservists to disperse migrant groups, pursue criminal smugglers and prevent small boat launches.In 2025, a confirmed 24 migrants died attempting to cross the Channel, down from 73 the year before.In April, two migrants died while attempting make the precarious dangerous journey.And in May, a 27-year-old man pleaded guilty to endangering life after four migrants - two women and two men - died attempting to board a small boat in France the previous month.Sudanese national Alnour Mohamed Ali admitted to piloting the dinghy but was not charged in connection with the four deaths at Canterbury Crown Court. Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter