The man was arrested on Friday morning.

15:51, Fri, Apr 10, 2026 Updated: 15:51, Fri, Apr 10, 2026

Rescue vehicles and medical units

Rescue vehicles and medical units gather on the beach to treat casualties after the incident (Image: AFP via Getty Images)

A 27-year-old Sudanese man has been arrested on suspicion of endangering life after four migrants died trying to board a small boat crossing the English Channel on Thursday, the National Crime Agency said.

The NCA said the man was arrested on Friday morning after two men and two women, whose identities have not yet been released, died when they tried to board a water taxi, off the coast of Saint Etienne au Mont, near Calais.

In a statement on Friday, the NCA said 38 people were returned to the French shore but 74 illegal migrants sailed on to the UK.

The suspect was arrested at Manston processing centre in Kent on suspicion of “endangering another during a journey by sea to the UK”. He is in police custody and is being interviewed by NCA officers, who are also speaking to those who made the journey.

There is also an investigation led by French prosecutor into the circumstances that led to the launch of the boat. They are being assisted by the NCA.

Craig Turner, its deputy director, said: “Working with colleagues at home and abroad, we are determined to do all we can to identify and bring to justice those responsible for these four tragic deaths.”

Mike Tapp, the migration minister, added: “Every death in the Channel is a tragedy. Our experienced law enforcement teams will continue working relentlessly with international partners to prevent these perilous journeys and bring those responsible to justice.

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“Through our Border Security Act, officers now have stronger powers to act earlier and disrupt, intercept and take down the operations of criminal smuggling gangs who bring illegal migrants to our shores.”

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