Two Sudan‑born women, aged about 20, died on Sunday after a cramped boat carrying 82 migrants stranded off the French coast. The vessel, which left the shoreline south of Neufchatel‑Hardelot in the early hours of Saturday‑Sunday, was overloaded with women, children and pregnant passengers. Officials say the women “suffocated” inside the boat rather than drowning.
Local authority Christophe Marx told reporters that the boat’s engine failed, causing it to drift before running aground near Neufchatel‑Hardelot. Seventeen people were rescued at sea and taken to Boulogne‑sur‑Mer, while the remaining 65 remained on board until the vessel was beached. The two women were found dead inside the hull; medical officers indicated cardiac arrest, likely caused by pressure and lack of oxygen in the tightly packed boat.
The migrant‑aid group Utopia 56 identified the victims as a 16‑year‑old girl and a 20‑year‑old woman, adding that a pregnant woman on the boat is in critical condition. Three other migrants suffered chemical burns from a mixture of fuel and seawater, and fourteen sustained minor injuries, with five taken to hospital for treatment.
Neufchatel‑Hardelot mayor Paulette Juilien‑Peuvion expressed sorrow at the loss of “young people trying to flee,” noting the presence of pregnant mothers among the passengers. The prefecture confirmed that survivors will be interviewed by border police to determine responsibility for the illegal crossing, and an investigation has been opened.
Utopia 56 blamed “repressive” French and British border policies for the tragedy, calling for the opening of safe routes, regular ferry services and the removal of restrictive measures that, in their view, drive migrants toward dangerous crossings.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) issued a statement expressing deep sadness over the deaths and reiterating the need for solutions that prevent hazardous journeys across the English Channel.
The incident follows two other recent fatalities in the region: two migrants died off Gravelines on 1 April, and four people were swept away near Equihen‑Plage on 9 April. According to an AFP tally, at least 29 migrants died at sea in 2025. In response, France and the United Kingdom signed a three‑year agreement in March 2025 to curb undocumented Channel crossings, committing to increase French coastal law‑enforcement personnel to 1,400 by 2029. French authorities claim the deal has already reduced the number of arrivals in Britain, although the UK recorded 41,472 illegal small‑boat arrivals in 2025, the second‑highest total since 2018.
The latest deaths highlight the ongoing humanitarian risks associated with the Channel route and underscore the urgent call from NGOs and international bodies for safer migration pathways.
