Two Illegal Migrants Tried to Row Across the English Channel in a Tiny Dinghy, But What Happened After More Than 12 Hours at Sea Shocked Rescuers

Maritime experts believe it probably took the two men more than 12 hours to reach British waters after they tried to cross the English Channel in a very small inflatable dinghy. The pair were rescued after being spotted by passing ships, ending what experts described as an extremely dangerous journey across one of the busiest stretches of sea in the world.

Emergency rescue teams were alerted shortly after midday on Saturday when reports came in that a tiny dinghy carrying two people had entered UK waters. After the alarm was raised, rescue crews quickly headed to the area to bring the men to safety before anything went wrong.

The crossing has attracted attention because the boat was much smaller than the larger inflatable boats usually used for Channel crossings. It came only a few days after authorities intercepted 165 migrants travelling together on what has been described as the largest migrant boat ever used to cross the Channel in a single journey.

Video footage showed the two men being taken to the migrant processing centre at Dover Harbour after they were rescued. One of the men appeared to be completely exhausted from the long trip and was unable to walk on his own after spending many hours rowing across the sea.

Experts in maritime safety said the journey would have been extremely difficult. They estimate the pair spent more than 12 hours at sea before reaching UK waters. Rowing a small inflatable boat across the English Channel is physically demanding and highly dangerous because of strong tides, changing weather conditions and the constant movement of large ships.

The English Channel is one of the world’s busiest shipping routes. Thousands of commercial cargo vessels, ferries and other ships pass through it every year, making it a risky place for anyone travelling in a small inflatable boat. Even experienced sailors treat the waters with caution because conditions can change very quickly.

The latest rescue brought the total number of people who crossed the Channel that day to 242. Since Andy Burnham became Prime Minister earlier in the week, a total of 883 people have arrived in the UK after making the crossing.

Earlier in the week, 165 people crossed the Channel in a single overcrowded dinghy, setting a new record for the highest number of migrants on one small boat. Home Office figures also showed that another 172 people arrived on Wednesday, 366 arrived on Thursday using just three boats, and a further 103 people crossed on Friday.

The Home Office said criminal people-smuggling gangs are putting more lives at risk by overcrowding boats beyond safe limits. Officials said the number of people packed into these small vessels has continued to increase, making the journeys even more dangerous.

A Home Office spokesperson said the latest crossing highlights that people-smuggling gangs show little concern for the safety of those they transport. According to the spokesperson, these gangs continue to organise dangerous Channel crossings despite the risk of injury or death, and lives have already been lost during previous attempts.

The spokesperson added that the Government has recently signed a new agreement with France aimed at reducing these dangerous crossings. The deal includes stronger enforcement on French beaches to stop boats before they leave, and officials say more than 45,000 attempted Channel crossings have been prevented since the last general election through joint operations between the UK and France.