One person has died and 15 have been rescued whilst trying to cross the English Channel in an overcrowded boat.

Local French authorities said the vessel departed Wednesday evening west of the port of Dunkirk with around 40 people on board.

The “overloaded” boat then picked up another group of people on the Gravelines coast.

Soon afterwards, the boat was spotted, and French authorities rescued three people from the water and another 12 still aboard asking for assistance.

The rescued people were then disembarked at the port of Gravelines and taken care of by emergency services. One unconscious person was declared dead despite receiving medical treatment.

The Dunkirk public prosecutor’s office has opened an investigation into the incident.

The French coastguard said it would continue to monitor the boat as it headed towards the UK with around 80 people still on board.