A second deportation flight under the government's "one in, one out" deal left the UK on Friday morning after the migrant lost a High Court bid to temporarily block his removal. The Home Office confirmed an Eritrean man departed on the flight that left Heathrow for Paris at 6.15am.
The deportation took place as hundreds of migrants attempted to cross the Channel in the opposite direction. At least one inflatable dinghy filled with young men launched from Gravelines beach, north-east of Calais, at daybreak on Friday.
Channel crossing attempts continue
People waded through waist-high water to reach the boat as it approached the shore. A child was passed aboard the vessel before it headed out to sea.
In Calais town itself around 5.30am, a group of 40 young men suddenly emerged from a quiet side street carrying an inflatable boat above their heads. They launched the vessel into a canal as police officers watched from the bank.
Officers observed as the boat driver struggled to keep the vessel in a straight line. The crossing attempt proceeded despite the obvious navigation difficulties.
Earlier rescue efforts
Earlier in the night, a group of men formed a human chain to help haul people out of the mud after a failed attempt to launch a boat in the canal. The rescue effort highlighted the dangerous conditions migrants face during crossing attempts.
Sources used: "PA Media" Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
