An overloaded inflatable boat carrying dozens of migrants bound for Britain has been filmed driving away from French coastguard ships in the English Channel amid fears it will capsize, sparking a frantic rescue operation.
The small inflatable boat was launched early this morning from Sangette beach in northern France, with those on board hoping to take advantage of mill pond conditions to make the dangerous crossing.
Shocking video shows a French coastguard boat trying to assist the ship as it drifted helplessly into shipping lanes in the Strait of Dover.
Despite the ship struggling with the weight of the many people on board, it appears that the engine has driven it weakly, away from the coast of Calais and miles out into the open sea.
Disturbing footage shows many of the people clinging to the ship are not wearing life jackets and there also appear to be young children and babies on board.
It is believed the boat drifted into British waters, with British rescue boats and coastguard vessels now taking to the water in an attempt to rescue the asylum seekers.
The boat was full of migrants, many of whom did not appear to be wearing life jackets
A French coast guard ship approached the boat, which continued its journey
There appeared to be small children and babies among those on board
A French rescue ship, the Abeille, was seen close to the boat as it drifted towards British waters
Photos show the boat struggling under the weight of the many people on board
The boat was seen chugging along, away from French rescuers, towards British waters
An eyewitness said about 50 people managed to board the rickety ship.
The plane was seen lumbering away from French rescuers towards British waters, where RNLI and coastguard teams are likely to intervene.
Maritime tracker shows BF Defender and RNLI ships had launched and were operating in the middle of the Channel. The ships now appear to be back in Dover.
The dramatic sequence of events took place after migrants overpowered police officers on Sangatte beach in northern France earlier this morning.
They managed to launch the ship as dozens of people jumped aboard, a witness said, before the boat drifted along the shoreline.
The overloaded condition of the boat posed a significant risk, with fears that it might capsize or become unseaworthy.
Earlier today, another group of migrants was intercepted by a Border Patrol vessel and escorted to Dover, Kent.
The mainly male group, wearing orange life jackets, could be seen disembarking from the catamaran in misty conditions shortly after 8am this morning.
Coast Guard officials were seen approaching the crowded boat as it drifted into the open sea
People aboard the inflatable craft are seen clinging on, with many dangling their legs over the side
The migrants, who launched the boat from Sangatte Beach, probably wanted to take advantage of the calm conditions
In the early hours of yesterday morning, French police stormed a beach near Calais, preventing 60 people from crossing in a number of inflatables.
They also seized jerry cans of fuel and an outboard motor.
France’s Police Nationale tweeted: “On the night of Monday to Tuesday, Pas-de-Calais #police officers on the beach of Hemmes de Marck prevented the departure of about sixty people on board several makeshift boats towards Great Britain.”
According to official figures, 61 migrants were intercepted in one dinghy on the same day and taken to Dover on a Border Force ship.
Last year, Tony Smith, the former director general of the Home Office, said this The times that migrants are ‘resisting rescue’ by French authorities in the hope they will be captured in British waters, allowing them to claim asylum in Britain.
“The people on board do not seek rescue because… then they will be taken back to France,” he said.
‘So there is evidence that people are resisting rescue until the moment they reach our waters, and of course we are obliged – the Border Force is obliged – to rescue them.
A total of 2,255 migrants have crossed the English Channel in small boats this year, similar to 2022, when a record number of people made the journey
In a separate rescue operation this morning, dozens of migrants were escorted from a boat in the Channel
A separate border vessel with fifty migrants on board docked in Dover this morning
‘Once they are on board a British ship they will apply for asylum and that has been the business model for some time.’
The Maritime and Coastguard Agency said of the ongoing operation in the Channel: ‘HM Coastguard is co-ordinating the response to reports of a small boat crossing the English Channel this morning.
‘RNLI lifeboats and Border Force vessels have been dispatched.’
After weeks of poor conditions in the Strait of Dover during the first two months of 2024, people smugglers have taken advantage of calmer weather this month.
A total of 1,213 asylum seekers have crossed the Channel in 25 boats so far this month, according to official government figures.
This brings the running total for 2024 to 3,468 in 73 dinghies – an average of 48 people crammed into each vessel.
On March 5, official Home Office figures revealed that 2,983 asylum seekers have arrived on board 63 boats since January 1.
The next day the total was 3,208 in 68 dinghies – an average of about 48 people in each boat – after about 100 to 150 people were picked up in the far middle of the Channel.
On March 2 and 3 alone, no fewer than 728 migrants were intercepted in the 33 kilometer wide Strait.
Border Force boats Typhoon, Ranger and Hurricane have all been spotted in the English Channel.
Last year, 29,437 people crossed, compared to a record 45,755 in 2022.
Nearly 30,000 migrants were also intercepted in the Channel on board 601 boats in 2023 – the second highest annual total.
Tragically, nine people died in this year’s attempt, including a seven-year-old girl who was in a boat that capsized on a canal with 16 people on board at Watten, 20 miles inland from Calais.
Three others died when they fell into the water off the coast of Cap Gris Nez on February 28.