A man has been arrested in Kent after a woman died attempting to cross the Channel.

French authorities were alerted to a boat in trouble in the early hours of Sunday.

Emergency services attended and airlifted a woman to hospital but she later died.

It is understood the vessel she was on, carrying around 40 people, continued to Dover.

On Monday night, officers from the National Crime Agency (NCA) arrested a 29-year-old Egyptian national in Manston in connection with the crossing.

He was questioned on suspicion of facilitating illegal immigration and bailed pending further inquiries.

The NCA continues to work with French authorities to ascertain the circumstances which led to the fatality.

NCA branch commander Mark Howes said: “This tragedy demonstrates how dangerous these crossings are, and our thoughts are with the family and loved ones of the individual who died.

“Working with partners we remain determined to do all we can to target, disrupt and dismantle the criminal networks involved in organised immigration crime, and prevent them from exploiting the desperation of others.”