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An Iranian woman who drowned during an ill-fated journey across the Channel was a "very brave girl" who died trying to save her fellow passengers, a survivor from the boat has told Sky News.

Mitra Mehrad went missing in August after boarding a small dinghy of 19 migrants, including a young child and a baby, seeking a new life in the UK.


She is thought to be the first person to have died at sea while making the crossing from France and one of her friends has told Sky News of her brave efforts to help others on board.

Ms Mehrad fell into the water with two other people during the crossing, both of whom were rescued.

Mr Nadi told Sky News: "We saw with our own eyes a human being drowning. We couldn't do anything - there was nothing we could do. Fifteen men couldn't save her.

"It was impossible. Some people on our dinghy fainted because they couldn't comprehend what was happening. Mitra was just being taken further away from us by the waves."

Her body was first spotted about 27 miles off Ramsgate, but search and recovery missions by the British and Belgian coastguards were quickly called off.

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