A 20-year-old Iraqi migrant who was apparently trying to sneak across the English Channel to Britain has been found crushed to death in a truck, French authorities have said.

Officials for the Pas de Calais region said the man's body was discovered by a Hungarian truck driver when he was inspecting his cargo in Calais port on Tuesday morning.

They said the victim was travelling with two other family members, who were unhurt.

The young Iraqi was the 12th person to die trying to cross the Channel since June, the officials said.

Thousands of migrants from Syria, Iraq, Sudan, Eritrea and elsewhere are living in filthy camps around Calais.

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