Migrant resuscitated on life raft after dinghy breaks in two in Channel

A coastguard helicopter with a paramedic on board flies to help rescue 30 migrants from the sea, including one who had stopped breathing

The migrants were rescued from the water six to seven miles off St Margaret’s Bay, by the white cliffs of Dover
The migrants were rescued from the water six to seven miles off St Margaret’s Bay, by the white cliffs of Dover Credit: Gareth Fuller/PA

A migrant had to be resuscitated on a life raft in the Channel after an overcrowded dinghy carrying 30 broke in half, casting them into the sea nearly seven miles off the English coast.

A coastguard helicopter had to be scrambled to help rescue the 30 migrants from the sea and take a paramedic to the scene after reports that one person had stopped breathing.

All 30 people, including the resuscitated migrant, were rescued and brought to land by Border Force and coastguard vessels after being rescued from the water six to seven miles off St Margaret’s Bay, near the white cliffs of Dover.

The person who was resuscitated by the paramedic is believed to have been brought ashore on a wheelchair before receiving further medical checks and treatment.

The Navy and police were also reportedly called to the scene to assist - along with the coastguard helicopter from Lydd, a fixed-wing aircraft, RNLI boats from Dover and Dungeness, and Border Force vessel Ranger.

A young boy is carried to shore as a group of migrants are brought in to Dungeness, Kent, after being rescued by the RNLI
A young boy is carried to shore as a group of migrants are brought in to Dungeness, Kent, after being rescued by the RNLI Credit: Gareth Fuller/PA

The rescue comes after the number of migrants reaching the UK in small boats this year surpassed 29,000 on Wednesday, according to Ministry of Defence (MoD) data.

There were 538 people intercepted making the treacherous journey across the English Channel in dinghies on Tuesday in 11 separate incidents, averaging a record 49 crammed on to each boat.

Natalie Elphicke, MP for Dover, warned of an increased risk of a tragedy as winter closes in. “The numbers of arrivals are deeply concerning,” she said.

“It’s vital to see the small boats crisis brought to an end as the seas will become colder and rougher as we head into autumn and winter. Action is needed now to avoid further tragic loss of life on the English Channel.”

All 30 people were rescued and brought to land by Border Force and coastguard vessels
All 30 people were rescued and brought to land by Border Force and coastguard vessels Credit: Gareth Fuller/PA

Government sources warned last month that traffickers are placing growing numbers of migrants aboard unseaworthy dinghies as well as offering discounts for children and the disabled.

They said it was “remarkable” that there has not been a repeat of the tragedy last November in which 27 men, women and children drowned when a dinghy capsized.

Some 29,099 migrants have so far crossed the Channel, with the first two weeks of September seeing 4,056 in 96 boats. This compares with 28,526 migrants for the whole of 2021 and 8,410 in 2020.

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