Sudanese national charged after four migrants die in English Channel crossing attempt

Sudanese national charged after four migrants die in English Channel crossing attemptFour people, two men and two women, died after trying to cross the English Channel in a small boat which sunk off the coast of CalaisNewsChristopher Mallett10:26, 11 Apr 2026Updated 10:38, 11 Apr 2026View 2 ImagesFrench emergency services at Plage Sud d'Equihen in France, after two men and two women died trying to cross the English Channel(Image: PA)A man has been charged with endangering life after four migrants tragically died trying to board a small boat crossing the English Channel on Thursday, the National Crime Agency said.Sudanese national, Alnour Mohamed Ali, 27, is alleged to have piloted the boat from France in a bid to get to the UK.Two men and two women died as they attempted to climb on to a so-called "taxi boat" - another term for a dinghy - at Equihen-Plage, near Boulogne-sur-Mer, on Thursday morning.Thirty-eight people were returned to the French shore after the incident south of Boulogne-sur-Mer near Calais, but 74 migrants travelled on to the UK. The head of the Pas-de-Calais region, Francois-Xavier Lauch, said the four migrants were "far out to sea" off the coast when their bodies were found by authorities.View 2 ImagesFrench police were called to Plage Sud d'Equihen(Image: PA)READ MORE: Canary Islands bus crash update: 'Brake failure' probe as Brit dead and dozens hurtREAD MORE: Met Office pollen bomb red alert pollen bomb as expert warns 'avoid at all costs'"I have to commend the actions of our officers and firefighters who, as you know, are deployed every day to stop these crossings," the prefect said at the time pf the incident.Speaking of the four people who died, he said: "They were already quite far into the sea. The currents, which can be dangerous here, swept them away. This provisional toll – and I insist that it is provisional – states four deceased: two men, two women.A UK government spok...