Part of Britain’s busiest port has been shut off by police after a migrant tragically died after suffering a ‘medical emergency’ in the Channel.
Officials brought a body ashore at the Port of Dover this morning after Border Force and the RNLI responded to an incident aboard a migrant dinghy mid-crossing.
Police confirmed they had launched an investigation into the ‘circumstances leading to the man’s death’.
Witnesses said attempts were made to revive the man – whose age has not been disclosed – for at least 45 minutes after he was brought in by Border Force catamaran, Typhoon.
The body was carried from the vessel into the port on a stretcher.
Dozens of migrants were also brought ashore by Border Force.
A forensics tent was set up near the RNLI lifeboat station and a section of the area was taped off by police.
The incident is not affecting ferry traffic which is based in a separate section of the port.
Officials stand near a forensics tent set up in the Port of Dover after a migrant suffered a ‘medical emergency’ and died during a crossing
The tent has been set up near the RNLI lifeboat station in Dover with a cordon in place
Attempts were made to save the life of the unnamed male migrant but they were tragically unsuccessful, and officials removed the body from a Border Force vessel on a stretcher
But other marine traffic out of the port – including some private vessels – is understood to have been delayed.
A police spokesman said: ‘Kent Police was called at 8.26am after a Border Force patrol responded to a medical emergency on a small boat in the English Channel.
‘A man has since been pronounced deceased.
The stretcher is carried past the lifeboat station in the wake of the tragic incident
Border Force officials were seen moving equipment near the scene of the tragedy
‘Officers have launched an investigation to establish the circumstances leading to the man’s death.
‘The priority remains to establish the man’s identity in order to notify his family.
‘Officers are currently at Dover lifeboat station while initial enquiries are underway.’
A UK Government spokesman said: ‘Border Force responded to a medical emergency on board a small boat entering UK waters.
‘It is with regret that we can confirm one individual has died, and our thoughts are with them and their loved ones.
‘Investigations are ongoing and it would be inappropriate to comment further at this time, but we want to thank those who responded to this incident and who continue to work tirelessly to secure our borders and protect lives at sea.’
The RNLI confirmed it launched its all-weather lifeboat and a group of migrants were brought to Dover in a Border Force boat.
In a statement, the charity said: ‘Dover RNLI’s all-weather lifeboat was tasked by HM Coastguard at 8.15am today to an incident in the Channel.’
Officials carry a stretcher up a docking ramp at the Port of Dover following the unexplained death, which saw Border Force and RNLI vessels respond
The stretcher was taken from Border Force catamaran, Typhoon, along the quayside
There were a further 211 arrivals yesterday, bringing the total since the start of the year to 9,099.
This is 40 per cent higher than at the same point last year, when the total stood at just over 6,000.
Since Labour came to power 32,341 migrants have crossed the Channel by small boat.
Dozens of migrants were seen disembarking from a Border Force vessel at Dover following the death of an unnamed male
One of the new Government’s first acts in power was scrapping the Conservatives’ Rwanda asylum deal, which was designed to deter crossings and save lives after hundreds perished since the crisis began in 2018.
It is the first time the 9,000 landmark has been broken so early in a calendar year.
Last year, the previous record, saw 9,000 arrivals three weeks later, on May 9.
The Government has pledged to crack down on people-smuggling across the Channel.
But there has been concern that its emphasis on boosting law enforcement efforts against traffickers will not have a sufficient deterrent effect on crossings.
Shadow home secretary Chris Philp has accused Labour of ‘losing control of our borders’ and attacked them for scrapping the Rwanda programme before it had time to take effect.