Body found on French beach after attempted Channel crossing

A man in his 20s has died following an attempted small boat crossing of the English channel, the French coastguard has reported.

Authorities said his body was found on Sainte-Cecile beach, near the coastal town of Le Touquet, on Saturday morning.

Overnight, a rescue team from France's Regional Operational Center for Surveillance (CROSS) had been deployed to monitor the boarding migrants onto a "makeshift vessel" at the beach, it said.

It reported that the vessel was stopped from departing by French authorities, and that no one was found in the water following a "thorough sweep".