A child has died off the coast of France while attempting to cross the English Channel in a small boat, local media has reported.

The victim is believed to be a teenager, but their age and nationality have not yet been confirmed.

This comes after two Somali women died attempting to cross the Channel in a separate incident off the northern coast of France on Saturday, bringing the number of deaths from crossing attempts this year to at least 27.

According to the Nord Littoral website, an investigation had been launched into the latest death, which occured at about 6:30am on Sunday near Ecault beach, in Saint-Etienne-au-Mont.

It also said 48 migrants were cared for by emergency services but the boat carried on across the Channel.

Cecile Gressier, the prosecutor in Boulogne-sur-mer, to

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