More than 350 migrants crossed the Channel illegally in seven small boats on Saturday, GB News can reveal
It comes after up to 50 migrants were rescued in a dramatic race against the tide, after their boat ran aground on a sandbank off the Kent coast.
The small boat ran aground this morning on Goodwin Sands, a notorious 10-mile long sandbank off Deal. Lifeboats and the Coastguard helicopter rushed to get to the stranded migrants, just as the tide was turning.
The incident comes as GB News can reveal the numbers crossing illegally from France have now passed 7,000 for the year so far.
The RNLI used small rigid inflatable rescue craft to ferry dozens of people off the sandbank and onto the waiting Ramsgate lifeboat.
A GB News camera crew filmed as that lifeboat arrived later at Dover harbour with 51 rescued migrants onboard.
No one is believed to have been injured in the incident.
It comes just four days after five people died when their dangerously overcrowded small boat got into difficulties off the French coast near Boulogne.
At least five small boats have made it to UK waters so far on Saturday, carrying more than 250 migrants.
Yesterday, more than 130 other migrants arrived in Kent, as criminal gangs took advantage of a slight improvement in weather conditions.
The latest arrivals take the number of Channel migrants who have crossed in small boats so far this year to more than 7,000.
That figure is significantly higher than the 5,745 who crossed at this point last year.
Lifeboats and the Coastguard helicopter rushed to get to the stranded migrants, just as the tide was turning
GB News
A Home Office spokesperson said: “The unacceptable number of people who continue to cross the Channel demonstrates exactly why we must get flights to Rwanda off the ground as soon as possible.
“We continue to work closely with French police who are facing increasing violence and disruption on their beaches as they work tirelessly to prevent these dangerous, illegal and unnecessary journeys.”
William Turner is a seasoned U.K. correspondent with a deep understanding of domestic affairs. With a passion for British politics and culture, he provides insightful analysis and comprehensive coverage of events within the United Kingdom.
