Mother of woman, 21, who died after being crushed in an overcrowded boat trying to cross the Channel says her family plan to make the perilous journey again - as they have 'no option' but to seek asylum in Britain

Mother of woman, 21, who died after being crushed in an overcrowded boat trying to cross the Channel says her family plan to make the perilous journey again - as they have 'no option' but to seek asylum in Britain By Megan Howe Published: 10:13, 11 August 2024 | Updated: 10:14, 11 August 2024 e-mail 39 View comments The mother of a 21-year-old woman who died after being crushed in an overcrowded boat crossing the Channel has said the family have 'no option' but to seek asylum in Britain. Amira Al Shamari, 52, said her family of six who arrived in France on July 1, have attempted the crossing six times, including the night her daughter died attempting to make the perilous journey. But, she said, they will do it again in order to build a new life in Britain.

The family, who are Kuwaiti Bidoon, a stateless Arab minority, fled the Gulf state in 2018. They had heard the UK accepted Kuwaiti Bidoon people. Speaking from Calais, Ms Al Shamari said: 'We have no options here, where should we go? Who's going to give us the protection? We have to do that again.

' Her daughter Dina Al Shammari was travelling with her three younger siblings, aged 13 to 19, and parents, when she died off the coast of Calais on July 28. Ms Al Shamari said the family believed there would be 60 people on the boat, but on the day of the crossing they discovered the numbers were 'double'. Amira Al Shamari, 52, holding a picture of her daughter Dina Dina Al Shammari died being crushed in an overcrowded boat trying.