A fifth migrant has been confirmed to have died in an attempt to cross the English Channel from France early on Sunday, French maritime authorities said.

On Sunday morning, ministers had been informed that several people died trying to launch from French waters, the PA news agency understands.

The incident happened near Wimereux at around 2am, triggering a major emergency response as 32 people were rescued and taken to Calais, while two people were in a critical condition, French authorities said.

French media said the migrants got into difficulty while trying to board the boat in darkness and cold temperatures.

France’s Maritime Prefecture of the Channel and the North Sea said several “castaways” attempted to reach the beach before rescue teams discovered six unconscious people in the water and on the rocks along the coast.

Two others were found in a state of emergency, with one rushed to hospital and another receiving treatment at the scene for severe hypothermia, it said.

The prefecture said a rescue helicopter remained on “high alert”, adding that conditions in the Channel were “particularly dangerous”.

 

The UK Coastguard could not comment because the incident took place in French territorial waters.