LILLE: A migrant died on Sunday trying to cross the Channel from France to Britain on an overcrowded boat but authorities said dozens on the vessel refused to be rescued and continued their journey to England.

The authority said in a statement that 75 people were on the small boat that was first monitored off the port of Calais inthe early hours of Sunday.

Rescuers took off 35 people, including one apparently `lifeless`who was taken by helicopter to a hospital at Boulognesur-Mer, the prefecture said. The migrant was declared dead at the hospital.

Others on the boat refused to return to France and continued the journey to England.-AFP