An overloaded inflatable boat carrying dozens of UK-bound migrants has been filmed motoring away from French coastguard vessels in the English Channel, with fears it may capsize sparking a frantic rescue operation.
The small inflatable boat was launched from Sangette Beach in northern France early this morning, with those on board hoping to take advantage of the millpond conditions to make the dangerous crossing.
Shocking video shows a French coastguard boat trying to assist the vessel as it drifted helplessly into shipping lanes in the Dover Strait.
Despite it struggling under the weight of the many people on board, its engine appears to have feebly powered it away from the coast of Calais and miles out into the open sea.
Pictures show that not all of those on board are wearing life jackets and there also appears to be young children and babies on board.
The boat is believed to have drifted into UK waters, with British lifeboat and coastguard vessels now launched in an effort to rescue the asylum seekers.
The boat was packed with migrants, many of whom did not appear to be wearing life jackets
A French coastguard vessel approached the boat, which continued on its journey
Small children and babies appeared to be among those on board
A French rescue ship, the Abeille, was seen near the boat as it drifted towards British waters
Pictures shows the boat struggling under the weight of the many people on board
The boat was seen chugging along, away from French rescuers, towards UK waters
An eyewitness said that around 50 people had managed to board the flimsy vessel.
It was seen chugging along, away from French rescuers, towards UK waters, where RNLI and coastguard teams are likely to intervene.
Maritime tracker shows that BF Defender and RNLI vessels had been launched and were operating in the middle of the Channel.
The dramatic sequence of events unfolded after migrants reportedly overpowered police officers on Sangatte Beach, in northern France, earlier this morning.
They managed to launch the vessel with dozens jumping on board, a witness said, before the boat drifted along the coastline.
The boat’s overloaded condition posed a significant risk, with fears that it may capsize or become unseaworthy.
Earlier today, another group of migrants was intercepted by a Border Force vessel and escorted into Dover, Kent.
The mostly male group, wearing orange life jackets, could be seen disembarking the catamaran amid foggy conditions shortly after 8am this morning.
Coastguard officials were seen approaching the overfull boat as it drifted in the open sea
People on board the inflatable vessel are seen clinging on, with many dangling their legs over the side
The migrants, who launched the boat from Sangatte Beach, are likely to have 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 attempting the crossing in a number of inflatables.
They also seized cannisters of fuel and an outboard engine.
The French Police Nationale tweeted: ‘On the night of Monday to Tuesday on the beach of Hemmes de Marck, the #policiers of Pas-de-Calais prevented the departure of about sixty people aboard several makeshift boats towards Great Britain.’
It came on the same day that 61 migrants were intercepted in one dinghy, according to official figures, and brought into Dover on a Border Force vessel.
Last year, Tony Smith, the former director-general of the Home Office agency, told The Times that migrants ‘resist rescue’ from French authorities in the hope that they will be picked up in British waters, allowing them to seek asylum in the UK.
‘Those on board are not seeking rescue, because… then they’ll be taken back to France,’ he said.
‘So there is evidence that people are resisting rescue until such a time as they reach our waters and of course we are duty bound — Border Force is duty bound — to rescue them.
A total of 2,255 migrants have crossed the English Channel in small boats so far this year, on a par with 2022 which saw a record number of people making the journey
A separate rescue this morning saw dozens of migrants escorted from a boat in the Channel
A separate Border force vessel carrying 50 migrants docked in Dover this morning
‘Once they’re on board a British vessel they will claim asylum and that’s been the business model for some time now.’
The Maritime and Coastguard Agency said of the ongoing operation in the Channel: ‘HM Coastguard is coordinating the response to reports of a small boat crossing the English Channel this morning.
‘RNLI lifeboats and Border Force vessels have been sent.’
After weeks of poor conditions in the Dover Strait during the first two months of 2024, people smugglers have been taking 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, Home Office official figures revealed that 2,983 asylum seekers arrived aboard 63 boats since January 1.
By the following day, the total stood at 3,208 in 68 dinghies – an average of around 48 people in each boat – after around 100-150 people were picked up in the far mid-Channel.
A staggering 728 migrants were intercepted in the 21-mile wide Strait on March 2 and 3 alone.
Border Force boats Typhoon, Ranger and Hurricane have all been seen in the English Channel.
Last year 29,437 people made the crossing compared to a record 45,755 in 2022.
Nearly 30,000 migrants aboard 601 boats were also intercepted in the Channel in 2023 – the second-highest annual total.
Nine people are tragically known to have died in the attempt this year including a seven-year old-girl who was in a boat which capsized on a canal with 16 people on board at Watten, 20 miles inland from Calais.
Three others were killed when they fell into the water off the coast of Cap Gris Nez on February 28.
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