Some of the migrants who were killed on a small boat whilst crossing the Channel were crushed to death, whilst others drowned, French investigators have revealed.
The French coastguard said three men, a woman and a child lost their lives in the incident north of Boulogne yesterday morning.
A criminal inquiry is now underway following the death of the five individuals who were aboard a boat which soon got into difficulty off Wimereux beach.
The vessel was packed with 112 people, instead of a recommended 20.
Migrants were crushed to death whilst trying to cross the Channel, French investigators have revealed
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Around 50 of the migrants aboard, who likely paid around £1,000 to people smugglers to gain a spot on the dinghy, are understood to have been flung out of the boat and plunged into the freezing water.
Some of the migrants fell onto the boat and ended up suffocating to death after being trampled underfoot.
“They were effectively suffocated while struggling to get out of the trap,” said an investigating source.
“Others on board simply wanted to get on with the journey to Britain, and this is exactly what happened.”
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Many of the migrants likely paid around £1,000 to people smugglers to gain a spot on the dinghy
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Guirec Le Bras, the port town's prosecutor, said an enquiry has been launched into “manslaughter, criminal association, and the assistance of foreigners in an irregular situation”.
Alleged smugglers were arrested on Monday night and their boats were confiscated, Le Bras said.
A French coastguard spokesperson said: “After an initial stranding on a sandbank, the boat set out to sea again.
“A crowd movement apparently occurred in the overloaded boat, causing several victims.”
French maritime rescue vessels and two helicopters took part in the operation to recover migrants from the freezing waters.
Jacques Billant, the Pas-de-Calais Prefect, said: “At the scene, sailors were able to note the presence in the boat of several inanimate people and in huge trouble.
A criminal inquiry is now underway following the death of the five individual
PA
“Six people were immediately picked up within the patrol boat for initial treatment before being dropped off as quickly as possible on the beach to be treated by firefighters and other emergency services workers.
“Despite attempts at resuscitation, five of them were declared dead at the scene.”
He said that they arrested five people in relation to human trafficking offences.
Billant said that despite the incident, 57 people remained onboard and restated the engine, with the French Navy escorting them.
The tactic of storming small boats without paying the criminal gangs for passage is becoming increasingly common and leading to sometimes deadly clashes between those migrants and people smugglers.
Responding to the news of the latest migrant deaths, UK Home Secretary James Cleverly said: "These tragedies have to stop. I will not accept a status quo which costs so many lives.
“This Government is doing everything we can to end this trade, stop the boats and ultimately break the business model of the evil people smuggling gangs, so they no longer put lives at risk.”