Woman and teenage girl die while trying to cross Channel in small boat

Two migrants were found dead on a small boat off the coast of France this morning (Picture: AFP)

Two women have died while attempting to cross the English Channel in a dinghy.

Some 82 people left on a boat from Neufchatel-Hardelot in the Pas-de-Calais at 1.30am today.

The boat drifted out to sea after encountering a technical issue, French authorities confirmed.

The women from Sudan, who French charity Utopia 56 reported were a 16-year-old girl and a 20-year-old adult, were found dead on the boat.