Four people who died when a boat started sinking into the freezing waters of the Channel likely drowned, an inquest has heard.
Kent area coroner Katrina Hepburn, opening the inquest at County Hall in Maidstone on Friday morning, said the victims of the 14 December tragedy are still unidentified. She recorded a provisional cause of death from drowning for the four.
It is “possible” two of them were Afghans, while the others were Senegalese, a report by Detective Inspector Ross Gurden of Kent Police said.
It went on: “The provisional cause of death is consistent with drowning.”
Another 39 people were safely brought to shore during the rescue, which involved the Royal Navy, French Navy, Coastguard and RNLI.
Ms Hepburn suspended proceedings until a later date amid an ongoing police investigation.
More to follow…
