A woman has died this afternoon while attempting to cross the English Channel in a boat carrying asylum seekers.

The dinghy was just 10 miles off the coast of Dover, Kent, when it suffered what the authorities are describing as a ‘catastrophic deflation.

The UK Coastguard deployed a Border Force vessel, two lifeboats and a helicopter to the scene – and issued a mayday call to other shipping in the area.

The woman was airlifted to Dover, but was pronounced dead, Kent Police said.

A spokesperson added: ‘Kent Police was made aware by the coastguard of an incident in the Channel involving a small boat just after 1pm.

‘One woman was airlifted back to shore, where she was pronounced dead.

‘Officers are conducting enquiries to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident.’

Footage shows people arriving at the Kent port and disembarking from Border Force boats.

A coastguard emergency helicopter was also pictured flying above the area.

A Maritime and Coastguard Agency spokesperson had said earlier: ‘HM Coastguard sent UK Border Force vessels, RNLI lifeboats, and HM Coastguard aircraft, in response to small boat activity reported in the Channel.’

A Border Force boat, carrying suspected migrants thought to have been picked up during the rescue operation, arrived in the Port of Dover just after 3pm.

People, including some children, were seen leaving the ship wearing orange life vests and being met by officials.

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The star parroted a number of talking points I’m more accustomed to hearing from right-wingers.

Ira had recently arrived in the United States, seeking safety from the war and hoping for a new beginning.

If they spent even a few hours in the company of people like Said or Hadnan, I know their opinions would change. 

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A young Iranian man has been arrested for allegedly smuggling asylum seekers to the UK in small boats.

Officers from the National Crime Agency (NCA) said they earlier detained the 22-year-old at an address in Acocks Green in Birmingham on suspicion of conspiring to facilitate illegal immigration.

Footage shows a topless man – wearing just jogging shorts – in handcuffs and being read his rights by NCA officers before being taken to custody.

NCA Regional head of investigations Jacque Beer said this follows a BBC investigation, adding: ‘This arrest is part of an ongoing investigation into organised immigration crime.

‘People smugglers operate for profit without concern for the safety of those they transport, which is why dismantling and disrupting the networks is a priority for the NCA.

‘Our investigation continues with the evidence we have gathered today.’

The NCA currently has 91 ongoing investigations into networks or people in the top tier of organised immigration crime or human trafficking as the government aims to ‘smash’ people-smuggling gangs.

The arrest comes as crossings across the English Channel passed 25,000 at the end of July – faster than any year since the records began in 2018.

The latest Home Office figures show an increase of 51% compared with the point last year (16,842) and 73% higher than that of 2023 (14,732).

Last year, the 25,000 mark was passed on September 22, and in 2023 it was October 2.

Sir Keir Starmer announced the highly-controversial ‘one in, one out’ returns deal with France, which will see the UK sending asylum seekers back to France in exchange for asylum seekers with links to Britain.

The pilot came into force this week, with the first people – who crossed the dangerous waters between the two nations on flimsy inflatables, risking their lives – falling victim to it yesterday.

The group of people who arrived in Kent are now being held in immigration removal centres to await their removal.

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For more stories like this, check our news page.

‘I hope the migrants can hear and see us.’

Protesters are expected to gather outside The Bell Hotel in Epping, Essex, after an asylum seeker was charged with allegedly attempting to kiss a 14-year-old girl.

Protesters are expected to gather outside The Bell Hotel in Epping, Essex, after an asylum seeker was charged with allegedly attempting to kiss a 14-year-old girl.

We must realise that the anti-migrant feeling didn’t come from nowhere.

I came to understand that my story could be a powerful tool for peacebuilding.

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Arriving in the UK all by myself, everything felt so new. The streets were quieter, people looked different to me, and I di…

‘I left behind everything I knew including friends and family,’ says Adey (Picture: King’s Trust)

Arriving in the UK all by myself, everything felt so new. The streets were quieter, people looked different to me, and I di…

I don’t know what the future holds for us all.

In England, everything changed.

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