At the end of the day on Wednesday (July 17), a French patrol boat operating off the coast of Gravelines, between Calais and Dunkerque, detected a group of migrants in a rubber boat in distress not far from their location.

According to a press release by the Channel authorities, posted on their X page, the boat was beginning to deflate and some passengers were in the water. The patrol boat went immediately to their rescue, and more rescue services were called to the scene.

A nearby helicopter rerouted and a plane from Frontex and a second helicopter flew medical personnel out from a mobile maritime team in Boulogne. The British also offered help from Border Force patrol boats and RNLI (Royal National Life Boat Institute) rescue boats operating out of Dover.

One migrant found 'unconscious'

The crew on board the French patrol boat brought 59 migrants on board, including one person who was described as "unconscious." The mobile maritime medical team provided immediate care but was unable to revive the unconscious person, who was later pronounced dead.

At the same time, a British Border Force vessel picked up 13 migrants. Everyone rescued was taken back to Calais as night fell, and were looked after by emergency services on the ground, stated the press release.

The boats, helicopters and planes continued to search around the area of the shipwreck until night had fallen, but they didn’t detect anyone else. Ships navigating the zone were told to stay on the lookout, but the wider search was called off.

Weather warnings

The French Prefecture for the Channel and the North Sea issues regular warnings about the dangers facing anyone putting to sea in small craft in the Channel. Although a relatively narrow stretch of water, it is one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world, with more than 600 commercial ships crossing it daily.

Weather conditions can also be difficult in this area. At least 120 days a year, wind speeds are equal or superior to a force 7, which is described as a "strong wind" that creates big waves and blows at between 50 and 61 kilometers per hour.

Currents in the Channel can also be deceptive and even in summer, when air temperatures can appear warm, the water is still cold. Even fit healthy people can’t survive for very long in the water without help. 

Just last week, four migrants drowned after their boat capsized in the Channel, not far off the French coast. Five people died during a crossing attempt in April.