Two migrants have died off the coast of France during an attempt to cross the English Channel. Six other migrants were rescued, with one of them taken to hospital. It comes a day after the government signed an extension with France over current arrangements on beach patrols as part of efforts to reduce the number of Channel crossings . Image: Pic: PA The French maritime prefecture said the latest incident started when a small boat headed towards the beach at Gravelines, near Calais, at around 9.