Channel crossing tragedy leaves one migrant dead and another missing

A person has died and another is missing after trying to cross the English Channel to get to the UK, according to French authorities.

It is believed the person was unconscious when they were pulled from the water and pronounced dead when rescuers returned to the dock.

More than 400 people were rescued during a French-led rescue operation in the Strait of Pas-de-Calais on Tuesday night and into Wednesday, the authorities said.

Searches were carried out after rescued migrants said someone had fallen into the water, according to the authorities.

It comes as figures showed more than 20,000 migrants have travelled to the UK in small boats so far this year.

On Tuesday, UK authorities rescued or intercepted 456 people who had navigated busy shipping lanes from France in small boats.

According to data compiled by the PA news agency, prior to that at least 19,756 people had already reached the UK so far this year, bringing the total to more than 20,200.

This is more than double the total for the whole of 2020.