Luxmy Gopal and Roger Johnson presented BBC Breakfast together
BBC Breakfast presenter Luxmy Gopal shared the breaking news annoucemnt live on air(Image: BBC)
BBC Breakfast presenter delivered heartbreaking breaking news during a live broadcast.
On Sunday’s (May 3) programme, Luxmy Gopal and Roger Johnson updated audiences with the day’s top stories from the UK and around the world.
They were accompanied by Elizabeth Rizzini, who gave regular weather forecasts, while Olly Foster reported on the sporting headlines.
Towards the programme’s conclusion, Luxmy shared the tragic update after news emerged that two migrants had lost their lives when their boat sank in the Channel while attempting to cross over to the UK overnight, reports the Mirror.
Addressing those watching, Luxmy said: “Some breaking news to bring you. Reports have just come through in the past few minutes that two people have died off the coast of northern France after a boat carrying migrants came into difficulty overnight.”
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Roger added: “Lets go live to our reporter Simon Jones, who has got the latest on this for us. Simon what more do we know about what happened.”
The programme then switched to Simon, who joined via video link and brought viewers the latest details on the tragic incident.
A major rescue mission was launched during the early hours after a migrant dinghy carrying 65 individuals encountered trouble off Hardelot beach, situated south of Boulogne.
French officials have verified that two female migrants perished in the incident involving a so-called taxi boat, as numerous people attempted to clamber aboard. Officials report that a second migrant vessel in the vicinity pressed on with its voyage to the UK while the tragedy was occurring at approximately 3am.
According to Christophe Marx, a regional government representative, around 82 individuals are thought to have been crammed aboard the vessel that “ran aground” on a beach at Neufchatel-Hardelot, roughly 12 kilometres (seven miles) south of Boulogne port.
This incident brings the death toll to at least eight people so far this year amongst those attempting the perilous crossing of the English Channel to reach the UK’s southern shores via small boats.
Last month saw Britain and France sign a fresh three-year agreement on security measures aimed at preventing these crossings.
France is set to boost the number of police officers and gendarmes monitoring the coastline, while the British Government will increase its financial contribution, according to figures compiled by AFP drawing on official French and British sources.
BBC Breakfast airs daily from 6am on BBC One and iPlayer
