A 22-year-old Sudanese migrant has died following a fall from a toll booth structure in Calais, France, as he attempted to board a moving lorry bound for Britain. The incident occurred around 2:40 a.m. on Sunday at the Setques toll plaza in Pas-de-Calais.
According to the Saint-Omer prosecutor's office, the migrant was on top of the toll booth when he attempted to jump onto the roof of a passing lorry. He failed to make contact with the vehicle and fell onto the road behind it. He sustained serious injuries and was transported to the University Hospital of Lille, where he died Sunday afternoon.
Authorities reviewed CCTV footage of the incident, which reportedly showed the migrant's attempt to board the truck before his fall. Another individual at the scene had successfully boarded the same vehicle moments earlier.
An investigation was opened into the circumstances of the death. Prosecutors, citing the CCTV evidence, concluded that an accident was the most probable cause, and the case was subsequently closed without further action. The deceased's body has been returned to his family.
Migrants continue to attempt to reach the United Kingdom by concealing themselves in lorries, despite security measures implemented around the port of Calais and the Channel Tunnel. In recent years, many have also undertaken the journey across the Channel in small boats.
Data indicates a decrease in Channel crossings over the summer months. Between June and August, 6,949 migrants made the journey, the lowest figure since 2020. The number of boats arriving in Britain also reached its lowest point since 2019. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood attributed this reduction to enhanced international cooperation against people-smuggling operations and a financial agreement with France aimed at increasing border security.
Despite the overall decrease, official figures show that 16,391 migrants have crossed from France to the UK this year, a 43% reduction compared to the same period last year. Mahmood stated that the government is committed to border security and that recent months have seen the lowest number of small-boat crossings in seven years. She also emphasized continued efforts to target criminal gangs involved in facilitating these crossings.
The issue of Channel crossings is slated to be a significant topic of discussion during a meeting between French President Emmanuel Macron and Andy Burnham. The British government is reportedly keen to maintain cooperative agreements with France designed to deter illegal crossings.