- Author, Hollie Cole
- Role, BBC News
A woman has died while trying to cross the English Channel in a “heavily laden” and “difficult” boat, French maritime authorities have said.
Authorities said that at 04:30 BST a French patrol boat was on scene and some of those on board the overloaded vessel off Calais requested help.
A person was found “unconscious” and taken by helicopter to a hospital in Boulogne-sur-Mer, northern France, where they later died.
At least 30 other people were rescued, but several people on the ship refused assistance and remained on board, authorities said.
During the night, a boat of migrants leaving the coast of Calais was reported to a French operational surveillance and rescue centre.
French maritime authorities said in a statement that two patrol units had been deployed to find the boat and arrived at around 04:30 BST to find it was “in difficulty”.
Some people on board called for help and patrol units began rescuing people “in distress” and evacuating people from the boat, they added.
They said: “During the transfer, it was found that one person on board the migrant boat was unconscious; he was taken on board and received first aid immediately.”
A helicopter transported the woman to hospital in Boulogne-sur-Mer and she later died.
At least 30 survivors were taken to the port of Calais and taken care of by emergency services and border police.
French maritime authorities said several people on board the migrant ship refused assistance and remained on board.
“Considering the risks of falling overboard or of injury during a forced intervention, the decision was taken to allow the remaining persons on board the vessel to continue their journey,” they said.
UK Home Office figures show that 342 migrants arrived in small boats on July 20 and 21.
More than 14,000 people have crossed the Channel since the start of the year.
