Refugee electrocuted in Channel Tunnel en route to UK

“His body was found on the top of a freight train after being electrocuted“.

The man (25) was killed when he touched a power cable while attempting to jump on to a high-speed training heading through the Channel tunnel.

The migrant’s death is the 10th since June this year, and the first since new security measures were introduced at the French entrance to the tunnel.

The man, believed to be Syrian and in his 20s, died shortly before midnight on Thursday.

A freight shuttle, which departed at 10.20pm yesterday was stopped shortly after the French platforms due to migrants being found on the tracks.

They were immediately taken into care by the emergency services.

According to Eurotunnel, the authorities later confirmed the death of one of those taken into their charge, adding “this sad incident shows once again that any attempt to travel illegally through the Channel Tunnel is fraught with danger”.

Passenger services through the tunnel are operating with some timetable disruption and a waiting time of about 30 minutes as a result of the tragedy.

In August, the number of crossing attempts was reduced significantly, the train operator said, pointing out the United Kingdom erection of a 1.2-mile fence around the Channel Tunnel opening on the European side near Calais.

Now there are more than 3,500 refugees – many fleeing conflict in Sudan, Eritrea and Syria – living in makeshift camps near the French port of Calais.

Eurotunnel says that 2,000 intrusions were being made every night in July but the number has now fallen to around 150.

Earlier this month the furious mayor of Calais, Natacha Bouchart, angrily demanded that Britain accept all of the migrants now living rough in her town.

It has become unmanageable as migrants make repeated attempts to break into the compound and on to lorries and trains.

Hundreds of migrants are still camped in and near Calais in the hope of crossing the Channel, he said.