The body of a teenager, thought to be a migrant, has been found on the roof of a Eurotunnel train travelling from Calais to the UK. Police were called to the scene at Folkestone, Kent, at 4.13am, where they found the body of the man on the loading bay of the vehicle shuttle service.

Although details of the man’s identity are yet to be established, it is believed he died in France and his body was then carried through the tunnel before being spotted in Folkestone.

A spokesman for Kent police said: “[We] were called at 4.13am to a report that the body of a male had been discovered on the loading bay of a Eurotunnel train at the Channel tunnel terminal in Folkestone. Enquiries are on-going to establish the circumstances behind his death.”

The incident comes after three people were injured when they broke into the Channel tunnel terminal near Calais earlier in July. Two of the migrants were discovered on a train bound for the UK and a third was found near the tracks.

About 3,000 migrants currently live in makeshift camps in and around Calais, and every day some attempt to board lorries and trains heading to the UK. According to Eurotunnel, they cut through fences around the Channel terminal late at night to jump onto passing trains, which can be travelling at speeds of up to 90mph before entering the tunnel.

Eurotunnel has warning notices around the site alerting people to the danger of trying to get on to the vehicles. It has also handed warnings to those in custody after trying to break in to the terminal, to make sure they are aware of the risks they are taking.

A Eurotunnel spokesman previously told the Guardian: “They try [to] jump on to the moving vehicles. That carries a huge risk because the trains move fast and the risk of being hit are considerable. What looks like a slow-moving train can be travelling much faster than you would think. But these people are prepared to risk a great deal, even their lives, to get to the UK. It’s a very difficult situation.”



On Wednesday, the operator demanded almost €10m (£7m) in compensation from the French and British governments towards security costs and lost business as it tries to cope with the migrant crisis. The British government has already paid €4.7m to increase security on the French side of the tunnel.

