Sudanese migrant dies in failed attempt to leap onto the roof of a moving Britain-bound lorry from the top of a Calais road toll booth

A Sudanese migrant has died after trying to jump onto the roof of a moving Britain-bound lorry from the top of a Calais road toll booth.The 22-year-old was on top of the structure at the Setques toll plaza in Pas-de-Calais when he attempted to leap onto the vehicle at around 2.40am on Sunday.But he failed to reach the vehicle and plunged onto the road behind it, according to the Saint-Omer prosecutor's office. The young man was seriously injured and rushed to the University Hospital of Lille in a critical condition, but died on Sunday afternoon. CCTV footage reviewed by authorities reportedly showed the migrant attempting to reach the roof of the moving truck before falling onto the road.Another person at the scene had successfully managed to get onto the same vehicle moments earlier.An investigation into the cause of the 22-year-old's death was opened following the incident.Prosecutors said the CCTV evidence suggested an accident was the most likely cause and the case was subsequently closed without further action.The victim's body was returned to his family. A Sudanese migrant has died after trying to jump onto the roof of a moving Britain-bound lorry from the top of a Calais road toll booth (stock image of migrants trying to block a truck on one of the access roads for the Eurotunnel in 2015 Migrants leave after attempting to climb into the back of lorries bound for Britain while traffic is stopped upon waiting to board shuttles at the entrance to the Channel Tunnel site on November 19, 2020, in Calais, northern FranceMigrants continue to attempt to reach Britain by hiding in lorries despite security measures around the port of Calais and the Channel Tunnel.In recent years, many have instead attempted the perilous journey across the Channel in small boats.Since the beginning of January, at least 16 people have died at sea off the French coast and three others have died on land while attempting to reach the UK.But Channel crossings over the summer have fallen to their lowest level since 2020, with 6,949 migrants making the journey between June and August. The number of boats arriving in Britain also fell to its lowest level since 2019.While critics have put the decrease down to bad weather, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood attributed the drop to increased international co-operation blocking people smugglers' supply chain for boats, lifebelts and outboard motors.She also credited a £662million deal with France to place more officers on beaches and take on new interception tactics.A total of 16,391 migrants have crossed from France to the UK so far this year, down 43 per cent on the same time last year, and an 18 per cent decrease on the same period in 2024.Ms Mahmood said: 'This Government is committed to restoring order at our border. This work is beginning to bear fruit, with June, July and August recording the lowest number of small-boat crossings in seven years. But we know there is more to do.'We will be relentless in targeting the criminal gangs behind these crossings, and we will continue to remove the incentives that draw people here on unsafe and illegal routes.'Small-boat crossings will be one of the main issues discussed when Andy Burnham hosts French President Emmanuel Macron in No 10 for the first time, according to officials.The Prime Minister will be eager to continue the one-in, one-out scheme with France, designed to act as a deterrent to crossings.August crossings - up to August 30 - were down 46 per cent on last year, falling to their lowest level since records began in 2018.July saw the fewest number of crossings since 2019, down 64 per cent on 2025.And June recorded its lowest level of crossings since 2019, down 50 per cent on last year.However, Labour's attempts to tackle the Channel crisis were still branded a 'complete laughing stock' earlier this month after a record 230 migrants arrived on one dinghy.The huge number – more than the capacity of a Boeing 737 jet – crossed from France on August 10, prompting the Conservatives to taunt Ms Mahmood for 'presiding over a complete and utter farce'.Measuring 49ft from bow to stern, it was 7ft larger than vessels which set previous records in July, and more than 10ft longer than a standard double-decker bus.