A damning safety investigation has revealed how a 36-year-old woman was trampled to death aboard a collapsing Channel migrant boat as rescuers struggled to handle the chaos.
Manpreet Kaur was crushed at the bottom of a flooded 7.8-metre inflatable dinghy on September 9, 2025, after panic erupted among 74 migrants attempting to cross the English Channel from France.
Tragic death inside unsafe inflatable
The vessel was severely overcrowded and completely unfit for the voyage across the Channel, according to findings by the Maritime Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB). Water filled the craft until it was deeper than knee-level in places, leaving passengers to desperately bail out the vessel using plastic bottles.
Refuelling the failing engine at least four times resulted in petrol leaking across the floor of the boat.
This created a toxic mixture of seawater and fuel that caused chemical burns to several occupants, including Ms Kaur. Investigators believe she was also severely weakened by inhaling petrol fumes.
Chaos erupts during rescue attempt
Passengers suffered from cold, dehydration, and extreme exhaustion, leading to verbal and physical fights as conditions onboard deteriorated.
Border Force vessel BF Volunteer arrived at 10.57am and passed a rescue line to bring the rubber boat alongside. Panic broke out as migrants rushed towards one side to reach safety, causing the fragile structure to collapse and throwing several people into the water.
In the ensuing crush, Ms Kaur was knocked down and pushed to the bottom of the boat, where she remained submerged under water for a prolonged period before being found.
A sudden shift in the occupants on board the migrant boat caused one side to collapse, resulting in significant flooding and panic.
Maritime Accident Investigation Branch
Training failures delay casualty retrieval
Border Force personnel managed to rescue all other occupants by 11.21am. However, Ms Kaur was only recovered at around 11.37am after the crew waited for the RNLI to arrive.
Official investigators found that staff did not spot her promptly because they were managing a mass rescue from a rapidly deteriorating boat. Her position in the flooded vessel, partial submersion, and lack of visibility made her difficult to see.
Furthermore, Border Force personnel had not been trained to recover an unconscious person from a collapsing small boat. This lack of preparation prevented vital assistance within a crucial 10-minute window after she first got into difficulty.
Official review demanded after Channel death
The safety report emphasised that existing procedures, equipment, and training left crews unable to safely recover an unresponsive casualty from a collapsed inflatable craft.
The MAIB recommended that Border Security Command review its operational procedures and crew training to improve casualty identification and recovery during future emergencies.
Investigators warned that delays in rescuing people in distress risk further loss of life.
- Vessel size: The inflatable dinghy measured just 7.8 metres long despite holding 74 people.
- Hazardous fuel: The engine required refuelling four times, spilling petrol into seawater inside the craft.
- Rescue timeline: Border Force rescued all other occupants by 11.21am, but Ms Kaur was not recovered until 11.37am.