A migrant reportedly fleeing British police tried to cross the English Channel to France in a kayak.

The man, described as a Ukrainian national by maritime sources, was first spotted on Sunday, September 1, off the British coast by a member of the public, the Telegraph reports.

The sighting prompted an unsuccessful search along the coast of Dover. The refugee was found only after he had already reached the middle of the Channel and had entered French waters.

The survey vessel Marshall Art eventually picked him up after the migrant was seen paddling towards their boat and brought him to Calais.

The incident was caught on taped conversations between the Marshall Art and the French and British coastguards, as the survey vessel was trying to gouge the intentions of the migrant. 

Once taken on board, the Marshall Art told the Dover coastguard the man was "asking for directions to France" and for a drink and rest.

He also shared fears he would be arrested, the survey vessel told the coastguard. It was not clear whether he was suspected of any offences. 

This came after it was reported last week that 614 migrants reached Britain through the English Channel in a single day, bringing the total number of crossings to 20,433 so far this year. 

This marked the second-highest number of arrivals in one day since the July 4 vote. On August 11, 703 migrant arrivals were recorded.

The number of people crossing the Channel is three percent higher compared to the first eight months of 2023, when 19,801 people reached Britain after attempting the dangerous trip.

It is also 18 percent lower than the number recorded in 2022, 25,065, according to an analysis of Government data.