THREE children aged 7, 9 and 13 have died after claims a pleasure boat capsized in the English Channel.
The boat ran into trouble near Agon-Coutainville in Normandy, France, at around 3.30pm local time.
Emergency services discovered three adults and three children – two girls of 9 and 13 and a boy of 7 – in cardiac arrest and brought them back to shore.
The three adults on board were slightly injured, Le Figaro reports, but the children died at the scene.
The nationality of the victims is not known at this stage.
Le Figaro quoted the marine authority, which said passengers had been on a "fishing-promenade speedboat" 800m from the shore when it attempted to turn and capsized.
Firefighters and the national society of sea rescuers launched boats and a helicopter for the rescue mission.
A boat from a nearby sailing school also raced to the scene to assist.
A statement from authorities said: "The boat as well as all the passengers were brought back to the beach of Passous where they were taken care, in a state of emergency, by the medical teams and the firemen."
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Minister of the Ecological and Solidary Transition Elisabeth Borne paid tribute to the victims, tweeting: “Emotions are running high following the tragic capsize in the channel.
“Our thoughts and prayers are the victims and their families.
“Our gratitude goes to the efforts of #Sauveteursenmer and the emergency services on location.”
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