On Sunday morning, at about 6:00 am local time, three people died while attempting to cross the English Channel in a small boat off the coast of Sangatte, near Calais. The French coastguard reported that several people had fallen into the water after trying to board the vessel. Helicopters recovered the bodies of the deceased from the water, while another 45 were treated on the beach. Many of the survivors were suffering from hypothermia, and four were taken to the hospital for further treatment.
The mayor of Sangatte, Guy Allemand, told AFP, “It never stops. It’s crossing after crossing, without any let-up.” Seven people reportedly needed intensive care. The French coastguard is continuing a sea search for any other survivors. The Home Office confirmed that the incident occurred in French waters, with French authorities leading the response and investigation.
Pierre-Henri Dumont, MP for the Pas-de-Calais region, warned that crossing the Channel at this time of year was even more deadly than usual because of current temperatures. Though rescue teams can respond quickly, even a few minutes in the water can be fatal. So far this year, over 36,000 people have crossed the Channel in small boats, surpassing the 2020 total of 29,437, according to government figures. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) also reported that 77 people have died making the journey in 2021.
The Home Office has pledged to dismantle people smuggling operations, with Prime Minister Keir Starmer making this a top priority. The Sunday tragedy is only the latest in a string of incidents involving people crossing the Channel in small boats. The French coastguard reported that several other boats left the coast on Sunday. The continued flow of people risking their lives, even in the face of such tragedies, underlines the urgent need for coordinated action between British and French authorities to prevent people from making this dangerous crossing in the first place
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