Migrant boat crossing English Channel forces Dunkirk flotilla of ‘Little Ships’ to divert as they commemorated legendary WWII evacuation

By DAVID BARRETT HOME AFFAIRS EDITOR

Published: 17:03 BST, 21 May 2025 | Updated: 17:03 BST, 21 May 2025

A flotilla marking the 85th anniversary of the Dunkirk evacuation was forced to divert due to a migrant dinghy in the English Channel.

The fleet of 66 vessels set sail from Ramsgate, Kent, at 6am on Wednesday to commemorate Operation Dynamo, which saw the ‘Little Ships’ rescue 300,000 Allied soldiers over 10 days in 1940.

But a migrant boat incident which claimed two lives led to the flotilla lengthening its crossing to Dunkirk to give a wider berth to a dinghy still in the Channel.

The Telegraph reported that sailors were told in a maritime frequency message: “There is a [French] warship on our head with a migrant [boat] close by. And we’ve been requested to give one nautical mile distance from that vessel, over.’

A French-accented voice, believed to be from the French naval vessel Oyapock, then replied: ‘Thank you, sir. Thank you very much.’

One observer later said: ‘It is one of the most important days in history and they are shoving them out of the way.’

Association of Dunkirk Little Ships organised the flotilla to ensure ‘the legacy of the Dunkirk little ships continues to inspire future generations’

The Association of Dunkirk Little Ships organised the flotilla – depicted in Christopher Nolan’s epic 2017 film, to ensure ‘the legacy of the Dunkirk little ships continues to inspire future generations’.

It came as two migrants tragically died in the Channel, as the total to have reached Britain since Labour came to power passed 36,000.

The dead were pulled from waters off the Calais coast by the French navy after an overloaded dinghy got into difficulties.

French officials said most of the rest of the migrants aboard the inflatable refused rescue and carried on to UK.

The Home Office confirmed there were 49 arrivals on Tuesday, bringing the total since the general election to 35,990, a 29 per cent increase on the same period in 2023-24. Additionally, there were dozens of further arrivals today.

The total includes 12,748 since the start of this year, also a 29 per cent rise on the same point in 2024.

The latest tragedy unfolded in the early hours, a spokesman for France’s Maritime prefecture said.

Association of Dunkirk Little Ships organised the flotilla, pictured sailing out of Ramsgate

The dinghy which had 80 people aboard was designed to carry no more than 20, it is understood.

The unidentified migrants were ‘pulled out by a Navy vessel’ and sailors ‘performed first aid on the two victims, but they were soon declared dead’.

Ten other passengers requested rescue, while about 70 others asked to remain aboard the inflatable which continued its journey towards the English coast.

A French Navy boat and a helicopter with a medical team on board provided emergency cover.

Prosecutors in France have started an enquiry into the fatalities, while judicial police are searching for people smugglers who arranged the crossing.

In total, some 17 people have perished on small boats so far this year.

A woman died on Sunday night after a dinghy broke up off the French coast.

Last year saw a record 78 deaths.

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Migrant boat crossing English Channel forces Dunkirk flotilla of ‘Little Ships’ to divert as they commemorated legendary WWII evacuation

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