Two men die in Channel crossing attempt from Berck

Two men died during an attempted Channel crossing from Berck, France, and women injured in the incident were hospitalized with burns, French authorities said. Prosecutors have opened an investigation into the deaths. Separately, a boat carrying an estimated 149 people reached Gosport, England, late Sunday, with the Home Office saying those aboard would be taken to Kent for processing. French officials said the men, one in his 30s and one in his 40s, died during the overnight crossing. Women who sustained burns over large areas of their bodies were taken to hospital; officials described their injuries as not life-threatening. The Boulogne-sur-Mer public prosecutors’ office is investigating the circumstances, which had not been established in the reports. The cause of the burns also remains unclear. A possible reaction involving petrol and seawater was reported as an explanation in French press coverage, but no official finding confirming that account was provided. The Gosport-bound boat was met in English waters by two RNLI boats after being shadowed by French rescue vessels, according to ship-tracking data cited in reports.