French Navy rescues 37 asylum seekers trapped by tide on sandbank, Dunkirk
17:05, 14 July 2021
updated: 18:35, 14 July 2021
The French Navy has rescued 37 asylum seekers by helicopter after they were cut off by a rising tide.
They were saved before seawater engulfed the sandbank they were stranded on.
The drama happened on Monday on the French coast.
Those in trouble had alerted coastguards that their small boat had become stranded on a sandbank at Dunkirk.
A French Navy helicopter had to fly back and forth to take groups of people to dry land.
Most rushed to the helicopter on foot but the last five had to be hoisted as the seawater poured in.
A website report by the Channel and North sea maritime authority said: "The French Navy had to hoist the last five as the water completely covered the bank in less than 20 minutes."
Préfecture maritime de la Manche et de la mer du Nord said the 37 people, including one woman, were handed over to French border police by noon British time and their boat was later recovered.
It was one of four incidents on the French coast on Monday involving a total of 123 asylum seekers.
Four people had to be picked up in their boat off Sangatte that morning and brought by vessel to Calais.
Later, coastguards were alerted to a boat with 27 people in difficulty off Gravelines.
They also had to be rescued at sea and brought to Calais.
Finally 55 people, including 10 women and two children, in a boat off Equhien had to be taken by tug to neighbouring Boulogne.
The préfecture maritime said that all rescued were safe and were handed over to border police.
But it said: "We warn migrants who plan to cross the Channel it is one of the busiest areas in the world and where the weather conditions are often difficult. Therefore it is dangerous for human life."
This is the latest in years of attempts by asylum seekers to reach Britain in small boats.
On Sunday 20 had to be rescued and brought to Ramsgate.
Others have landed on beaches in areas such as Deal and Romney Marsh.
Those rescued at sea on the British side of the Channel have been brought to Dover by the Border Force for interview and processing.
It was reported this month record numbers of people have continued to make the perilous journey across the English Channel in small boats.
Nearly 6,000 reached the UK in the first six months of 2021.
