Dozens of individuals, including an eight-year-old child, tragically lost their lives while attempting the perilous Channel crossing in 2025, as revealed by distressing statistics.
Various charitable organizations estimate that a minimum of 36 people perished in their quest to reach the UK, although some groups suggest the actual toll could be even greater. Among the deceased were a mother and her daughter identified as Kazaq Ezra, aged 40, and Agdad Hilmi, just eight years old, who tragically met their end on a small vessel in May.
Collaborating with multiple agencies in the UK and France, The Mirror has endeavored to uncover the identities of those who perished. Unfortunately, neither country maintains a comprehensive record of these fatalities, leaving many unknown and unaccounted for.
Advocates have emphasized the importance of publicly acknowledging these individuals by sharing their names, stating that it is the least that can be done to honor their humanity. Louise Calvey, the director of Asylum Matters, criticized the government for failing to document these tragedies, highlighting the callous message it sends regarding the value of asylum seekers’ lives and the lethal consequences of certain policies.
Among those who have been identified are Natnael Tesfalem, 31, from Eritrea, who drowned in May; Awet Hagos Haile, a woman believed to be around 30, also from Eritrea, who passed away in March; and Bilal Yildirim from Turkey, whose body was recovered after being missing for over 50 days. A friend of Bilal, Ozgur Gul, described the unsafe conditions of the vessel he boarded on a GoFundMe page set up for his funeral expenses.
In separate incidents, a Somali woman, possibly named Ayesha, lost her life while boarding a boat in Dunkirk in August, and two more women from Somalia perished in similar circumstances the following month.
Furthermore, the casualties included Kuwaiti Jabr Al Ftah, 64, who succumbed to a heart attack on a small boat bound for the UK in March; Abdul Raheem Qasem, 24, from Yemen, found dead on a beach in Sangatte in January after attempting the crossing; and Suleiman Alhussein Abu Aeday, a Syrian refugee in his early twenties, who was the first recorded fatality of the year.
Calais Migrant Solidarity reported the burial of an unnamed Eritrean woman, believed to be in her 30s, in a Calais cemetery in April before her family could be located, following her tragic death while attempting to reach the UK via a small boat.
According to the Missing Migrants Project, a total of 36 individuals lost their lives in 2025 while attempting to reach the UK, including 20 men, six women, and one child, with the genders and ages of the others remaining unidentified.
While the cause of death is recorded as drowning in nine cases, it remains unclear in many instances, prompting increased pressure on the government to accurately document these fatalities during small boat crossings. Labour MP Nadia Whittome has advocated for the official recording of Channel deaths, denouncing the preventable nature of these tragedies and the lack of transparency surrounding their true scale.
Gunes Kalkan, head of campaigns at Safe Passage International, emphasized the urgent need for expanding legal pathways to dissuade individuals from resorting to human traffickers. He cautioned against the potential dire consequences of halting family reunion routes for refugees, particularly impacting vulnerable children seeking to reunite with their families.
The Joint Council of the Welfare of Immigrants (JCWI) believes that over 40 individuals lost their lives in 2025 attempting the UK crossing. Seema Syeda from the charity attributed these deaths to systemic issues, advocating for inclusive routes that would mitigate the risks faced by travelers.
In conclusion, the importance of recognizing and memorializing the lives lost during these perilous journeys was reiterated, with calls for effective measures to prevent further tragedies. Ms. Calvey stressed the necessity of implementing safe routes as the fundamental solution to prevent further loss of life.
Responding to these concerns, a spokesperson from the Home Office emphasized the government’s focus on saving lives at sea and safeguarding national borders. Mention was made of comprehensive reforms aimed at addressing illegal migration and enhancing border security to deter unlawful entry and remove individuals lacking the right to remain in the UK.