Home   Folkestone   News   Article

Teenager's body found on Eurotunnel train

A teenager's body has been discovered on a Eurotunnel train in Folkestone, as footage emerges of dozens of migrants boarding empty carriages.

The young man's body was found on a shuttle train from Calais at 4.30am yesterday by Eurotunnel staff, who called an ambulance and the police.

It is thought the dead man was a migrant attempting to enter the UK.

Eurotunnel has reported record freight traffic in September. Picture: Daniel Berehulak/Getty Images
Eurotunnel has reported record freight traffic in September. Picture: Daniel Berehulak/Getty Images

It comes as a national newspaper releases footage filmed by a worker of 40 illegal migrants riding on the carriage of an empty freight train as it arrives at the Folkestone terminal.

The unnamed worker told The Sun: "The last incident happened on Monday, pretty much where the train gets into the UK. There were about 80 just sat there. When it stopped the police came down and picked them up.

"Jumping onto a train is inherently dangerous and there is a serious risk of death..." - Eurotunnel spokesman John Keefe

"They shouldn't be sending trains through with immigrants on them.

"Some have fallen off and died. It seems to happen on a lot of the nights.

"People need to know it is happening."

The migrants are taking advantage of travel chaos at Calais to board the empty carriages in a bid to enter the UK.

The most recent casualty was found yesterday on a loader wagon, a type of truck that acts as a bridge onto the train for lorries.

Loader wagons are flatbed trucks with no sides, making them popular targets for desperate migrants looking to board trains.

But the speed of the shuttles means the practice is often lethal.

Eurotunnel spokesman John Keefe said: "The shock of landing on one of these is enough to prove fatal, as it sadly appears to have done in this instance, but the desperation is such that they are prepared to take the risk.

A Eurotunnel train. Stock picture
A Eurotunnel train. Stock picture

"Jumping onto a train is inherently dangerous and there is a serious risk of death. Inevitably we've seen a number of these tragic occurrences.

"We are doing everything we can to prevent incidents such as this."

Eurotunnel has printed posters warning migrants of the dangers posed by trying to board trains travelling from the French port.

Warning leaflets have also been handed out at the camps in Calais by humanitarian workers.

Yesterday, another man died in an attempt to get on a train at the French port, and on Wednesday, two men were seriously injured after falling onto the M20 from beneath a lorry.

Close This site uses cookies. By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies.Learn More