A second migrant has died in as many days attempting to cross the English Channel in an overloaded boat, French authorities have confirmed.

The French coastguard said the latest tragedy occurred in the early hours of Thursday morning, after a vessel carrying around 80 people encountered difficulties near Gravelines, northern France. The boat had reportedly departed from Dunkirk on Wednesday night.

A rescue operation was launched around 3am, during which three people were pulled from the water. Twelve others on board the vessel requested evacuation. One person was found unconscious and, despite resuscitation efforts by emergency crews, was pronounced dead at the scene.

Those rescued were transported to the port of Gravelines, where they received medical attention from emergency services.

The French coastguard said it continued to monitor the vessel’s journey toward the UK following the rescue operation. Numerous migrant boat departures had been reported to France’s maritime surveillance and rescue centre on Wednesday night.

An investigation has been opened by the Dunkirk public prosecutor’s office to establish the circumstances surrounding the latest fatality.

The death comes just 24 hours after another migrant lost their life while attempting the same journey. On Wednesday morning, a dinghy ran into difficulty near Equihen-Plage, also in northern France. Two people were pulled from the water—one suffering from hypothermia, while the other, who was in cardiac arrest, could not be saved.

According to the Home Office, 289 people arrived in the UK on Wednesday alone, across five separate small boat crossings. Provisional figures indicate that 4,684 people have made the journey so far this year.

The French coastguard has now recorded four fatalities in rescue operations in the Channel since the start of 2025.

The Channel continues to be one of the most dangerous maritime migration routes, with overcrowded vessels and treacherous conditions frequently leading to life-threatening situations.