One missing after 87 migrants rescued while attempting to cross the Channel

Eighty-seven people were rescued after a small boat got into difficulty while attempting to cross the English Channel, and one person was reported missing. French authorities launched a search involving ships, an aircraft and a helicopter, but called it off several hours later; the incident highlights the dangers of crossings in cold, difficult conditions.

The rescue took place on Saturday evening in the French Search and Rescue Region. One rescued person was suffering from hypothermia, and emergency services met the group at Calais harbour. Home Office figures put Channel crossings at 23,529 so far in 2026, down 39.8 per cent on the same period in 2025; the article also reports that more than 500 bank accounts suspected of links to immigration crime have been closed.