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An official inquiry has determined that the deaths of at least 30 individuals who drowned while attempting to cross the English Channel in November 2021 could have been prevented. The tragedy occurred when the dinghy they were aboard became overwhelmed and capsized during the early hours of 24 November, marking the deadliest incident involving small boats in the Channel to date. Only two people survived the ordeal, being discovered nearly 12 hours after issuing a distress call.
Sir Ross Cranston, who chaired the inquiry, highlighted a “significant, systemic failure on the part of government,” emphasizing that many of the fatalities were avoidable. Following the sinking, 27 bodies were recovered, while an additional four individuals remain missing. The migrants had embarked from a beach close to Dunkirk, France, and originated from several countries, including Iraq, Somalia, Ethiopia, Egypt, and Afghanistan.
The report detailed how the Dover-based HM Coastguard faced severe challenges due to chronic staff shortages and limited resources, which hindered their ability to respond effectively. A surveillance aircraft that could have provided vital intelligence on migrant crossings failed to launch because of adverse weather, and no backup plan was in place. The inquiry also uncovered that distress calls and messages from those aboard the dinghy were either missed or not properly followed up, and search teams were not adequately informed about the potential sinking or the presence of people in the water. Moreover, there existed a widespread perception among the Coastguard that migrants calling from small boats tended to exaggerate their distress, leading to an underestimation of the emergency’s severity.
The inquiry identified three critical failures that contributed to the loss of life: the overloading of boats by people smugglers, the delayed response by the French naval vessel Flamant, and deficiencies within the Coastguard’s search and rescue procedures. Survivors and relatives of those who died provided testimonies during the inquiry, which began more than two years after the incident, in March 2024. Some victims had survived for several hours in the water, and experts suggested that if rescue efforts had continued into daylight, more lives might have been saved. A distressing example recounted was that of a 16-year-old Iraqi Kurdish boy who called the Coastguard around 01:30 to report that everyone was in the water; although he was reassured that help was on the way, he was also told to stop calling. By 07:00 that morning, authorities had classified the incident as resolved.
Sir Ross Cranston urged that “The practice of small-boat crossings must end. Apart from other reasons, it is imperative to prevent further loss of life,” emphasizing the dangers inherent in traveling by overcrowded and unseaworthy vessels across one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes. While acknowledging the dedication of the Coastguard, Border Force, and Royal National Lifeboat Institute, the report stressed the need for systemic reforms to better support rescue efforts. Recommendations include enhanced specialized training for Coastguard personnel on handling small boat incidents and investment in advanced technology to improve response capabilities.
A spokesperson for the Maritime and Coastguard Agency expressed condolences to the victims’ families and pledged to carefully consider the report’s findings, reaffirming the Coastguard’s commitment to life-saving operations at sea. Meanwhile, Steve Smith, CEO of Care4Calais, criticized successive governments for dehumanizing refugees, asserting that “it has needlessly cost lives.” He expressed hope that the government would act on the inquiry’s recommendations by establishing safe routes for refugees to seek asylum in the UK, thereby preventing further deaths in the Channel
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