Luxmy Gopal and Roger Johnson brought viewers up to speed with the latest news on BBC Breakfast
The news presenter shared the breaking news announcement live on air(Image: BBC)
BBC Breakfast hosts issued a devastating breaking news announcement live on air.
During Sunday’s (May 3) episode of the popular morning show, Luxmy Gopal and Roger Johnson brought viewers up to speed with the latest news from across Britain and internationally.
They were joined in the studio by Elizabeth Rizzini , who provided regular weather updates, whilst Olly Foster covered the sports news.
However towards the end of the show, Luxmy made the tragic announcement following the news that two migrants have died after a boat sank in the Channel while attempting to cross over to the UK overnight.
Speaking to viewers at home, Luxmy revealed: “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.”
Co-host Roger continued: “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 show then cut over to Simon, who appeared on the breakfast show via video link and updated viewers on the devastating news.
A huge rescue operation was launched in the early hours, after a migrant dinghy carrying 65 people got into difficulties off Hardelot beach, south of Boulogne.
French authorities have confirmed two female migrants died in the incident involving a so-called taxi boat, as dozens of people tried to scramble on board.
Authorities say a second migrant boat nearby continued on its journey to the UK, as the incident unfolded around 3am.
It is believed that there were 82 people packed on the boat that “ran aground” on a beach at Neufchatel-Hardelot, about 12 kilometers (seven miles) south of the port of Boulogne, said Christophe Marx, a regional government official.
It comes as at least eight people have now died this year on small boats trying to make the risky trip across the English Channel to the southern coast of the UK.
Last month, Britain and France signed a new three-year deal on security operations to stop the crossings.
France will increase the number of police and gendarmes patrolling the coast while the British government will increase its contribution to the cost, according to an AFP tally based on official French and British sources.
BBC Breakfast airs daily from 6am on BBC One and iPlayer