Three dead, including child, in English Channel crossing attempt

A 10-year-old child and two women in their 30s died after a small boat attempting to cross the English Channel encountered difficulties off France’s northern coast, French authorities said.

The boat, carrying 105 people, had departed from Blériot Plage beach near Calais on Monday morning when authorities received a distress call, according to AFP.

Three passengers were treated aboard the vessel but were later pronounced dead by an emergency medical team transported by helicopter, the French Maritime Prefecture of the Channel and the North Sea said.

Passengers brought to Calais

The remaining passengers were taken off the boat and transferred to a rescue vessel before being brought to the port of Calais later on Monday morning.