A man has been declared dead after being pulled from the water in the English Channel overnight, French authorities have said.
He was found overboard and unconscious after a boat believed to be headed for the UK got into difficulty off the coast of France.
The man, in his 20s, was taken back to shore but was declared dead.
Near-freezing temperatures in the English Channel has not stopped dozens of people making the dangerous crossing from France this month.
So far, more than 450 people have made the life-threatening trip across the Channel in small boats following a record-breaking year in 2021.
The man who died is believed to be of Sudanese origin, the Boulogne-sur-Mer prosecutor said.
A total of 32 people were rescued off Berck, near Calais, in a state of hypothermia.
A manslaughter investigation has been opened, the prosecutor confirmed.
