Body of young migrant found on French beach as crossings to UK rise

PARIS (AP) — French authorities announced the discovery Sunday of a body on a beach used as one of the launch points for migrants attempting the perilous sea crossing from northern France to the U.K on flimsy inflatable boats.

The prefecture of northern France’s Pas-de-Calais region said the body of a young man, “very likely” a migrant who had attempted the crossing overnight, was found Sunday morning on the long sandy beaches south of the port town of Boulogne-sur-Mer.

Attempted crossings and deaths have surged in recent days. The prefecture previously reported that two women died Saturday during a separate attempt to cross the English Channel.

In less than 48 hours since Friday night, authorities counted 41 crossing attempts, some of them thwarted, along the Pas-de-Calais coastline th