Nearly 600 people made the perilous trip across the English Channel on a single day this week, a new daily record.
On the day an Eritrean man lost his life trying to reach the UK, at least 592 people were rescued or intercepted when making the dangerous crossing, latest figures show.
The 27-year-old died after he and four others jumped overboard as their boat started to sink in the Dover Strait on Thursday.
A manslaughter investigation is now under way in France following the death.
Latest figures provided by the Home Office on Friday night say at least 592 people were rescued or intercepted in their bids to cross to Britain on Thursday—a new record for a single day.
At least 155 people were intercepted by French authorities and returned to the continent on Thursday.
The new high mark eclipses the previous record of 482 set just over a week earlier on Aug. 4, according to data compiled by the PA news agency.
More than 11,000 people have now succeeded in crossing the Dover Strait aboard small boats in 2021, PA data shows.
Thursday’s loss of life did not stop more people from attempting the journey on Friday, with individuals seen being brought into the port of Dover in Kent after crossing the Channel.
The Home Office said 25 people reached the UK aboard one boat on Friday while others were returned to France.
Home Secretary Priti Patel and her department have repeatedly vowed to make the Channel route “unviable”, but crossings have continued to rise.
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