Number of attempts to cross Channel has been particularly high for several days, say French authorities
Four people including two children have died in two separate incidents while trying to cross the Channel to the UK in the last 24 hours, while three others are missing in a third incident.
On Tuesday night off the coast of Sangatte, France, three people lost their lives while travelling on a dinghy with 38 people onboard. Three others are missing after an incident in Neufchâtel-Hardelot, France, on a boat with 115 people onboard.
On Tuesday afternoon a woman was confirmed dead after a rescue attempt on the UK side of the Channel. The woman was airlifted to Dover but her life could not be saved.
The deaths come just days after former home secretary Yvette Cooper announced the suspension of refugee family reunion, a safe route used mainly by women and children to reunite with immediate family members granted refugee status in the UK.
