'Blood on French hands' as 3 more migrants die

FRENCH authorities were accused of having “blood on their hands” for failing to stop three Channel crossings that left at least four people dead in less than 24 hours.

- By Michael Knowles Home Affairs Editor

Two children were among three asylum seekers who died in chaos on an overloaded boat off Calais.

Regional prefect Laurent Touvet said they were “likely crushed” in the dinghy overnight. He claimed smugglers had launched a boat carrying 115 people yesterday — one of the biggest ever seen.

The French rescue ship Abeille Normandie picked up 44 people and let 28 continue to UK waters.

Three more were feared dead after being reported missing.

The tragedies came just 12 hours after a woman died when a migrants’ dinghy “deflated” as it reached UK waters.

Coastguards had issued a Mayday call, which the Daily Express has heard, calling for “any vessels in the area able” to join rescue efforts.

Escort

Witnesses told us French crews had followed the dinghy for hours before it began to deflate rapidly but did not rescue migrants, who were taken to Dover by UK Border Force, the RNLI and in a coastguard helicopter.