TWO illegal immigrants died after jumping off a ferry which was deporting them from the UK, an inquest heard.

Leonard Isufaj, 27, and Artur Doda, 24, leapt into the water and tried to swim ashore as the ferry left Harwich, just hours after they had smuggled themselves into the country.

Border Force officers had discovered the Albanian nationals hiding in a lorry when it arrived at Harwich from the Hook of Holland in the early hours of February 26 last year.

They were being sent back to Holland on the Stena Britannica which left Harwich at 9am the same day.

The pair jumped from the side of the boat in a bid to reach Landguard Point, which was no more than 500 metres away at the time.

Mr Isufaj’s body was found on Felixstowe seafront on March 20 last year and Mr Doda’s was recovered from the North Sea close to Harwich on April 29.

A post mortem examination revealed Mr Doda had suffered cuts to his abdomen and injuries to his back which could have been caused by the ship’s propeller.

Mr Isufaj had drowned.

Essex Coroner Eleanor McGann recorded verdicts of accidental death at Chelmsford Coroner’s Court today.