The authorities confirmed she was a 24-year-old Eritrean woman.

In August, at least six people died and dozens more were rescued after a migrant boat crossing the English Channel capsized.

The incident took place off Sangatte in northern France.

A vigil was held in the port town of Folkestone for the victims as participants called for "safe routes" and "enough deaths".

Since 2018, more than 100,000 people have arrived illegally in the UK on small boats.

Speaking today, Home Secretary Suella Braverman argued that being discriminated against for being a woman or LGBT+ was not enough to qualify for asylum in the UK.

Ms Braverman acknowledged there are "vast swathes of the world where it is extremely difficult to be gay, or to be a woman".

She also acknowledged that where people are being persecuted, sanctuary should be offered.

But she said: "We will not be able to sustain an asylum system if in effect, simply being gay, or a woman, and fearful of discrimination in your country of origin, is sufficient to qualify for protection."

She also argued that "nobody entering the UK by boat from France is fleeing imminent peril" and therefore has"'no good cause for illegal entry".

She also sharply criticised the European Convention on Human Rights, saying the system can be "gamed by those that don't really need it".

Rishi Sunak made stopping the small boat crossings one of his five key priorities for his government, but his plans for bringing down illegal immigration have been mired in difficulty and delay.