125 migrants make record English Channel crossing in one dinghy

A small boat carrying 125 migrants crossed the English Channel from France to the UK on Saturday, setting a new record for the largest number of people on a single vessel making the perilous journey.

The crossing occurred amid a surge in small boat arrivals, with nearly 900 migrants making the crossing on the same day. 

The so-called 'mega dinghy' surpassed the previous record of 106 migrants aboard a single boat, highlighting the increasing use of larger, overcrowded vessels by people smugglers. Authorities have expressed concern over the safety risks associated with such overcrowded conditions.

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood condemned the crossing. 

"These small boats crossings are utterly unacceptable and the vile people smugglers behind them are wreaking havoc on our borders," Mahomood said. 

The UK government has been under pressure to address the rising number of small boat crossings. In response, the UK and France have implemented a "one in, one out" immigration policy, allowing the UK to return asylum seekers who arrived via the Channel, while accepting an equal number of individuals with family ties to the UK.

Despite these measures, the number of migrants attempting the crossing continues to rise. As of late September 2025, more than 33,000 people have made the journey this year, with the majority being men aged 18 to 39. 

The tragic consequences of these crossings were underscored over the weekend, as a child died after falling from an overcrowded dinghy, and two women lost their lives in a separate incident. 

Authorities continue to investigate these incidents and the activities of people smuggling networks operating in the region.

Copied