French rescue 119 migrants trying to cross to England

LILLE, France – French coastal services have rescued more than a hundred migrants from the Channel as they tried to make the crossing to England over the weekend, with one person rushed to hospital, officials said Sunday.

In a series of operations Saturday, rescue teams on the north coast of France saved 119 people who attempted the crossing, said Premar, France's maritime service for the region.

In one rescue, a migrant who had passed out was taken by helicopter for treatment at a hospital at Boulogne, on the north coast.

On Thursday, Britain and France signed a new three-year deal to stop undocumented migrants making the risky journey across the Channel in small boats, with London increasing its payments to help fund French operations.

In 2025, at least 29 migrants attempting the crossing from the north coast of France to the south coast of England, according to an AFP count based on French and British official sources.

So far this year, six people have died while trying to cross. — Agence France Presse