In the darkness of Monday night, the English Channel bore witness to yet another desperate attempt by migrants seeking refuge in the UK. However, what started as a bid for a better life tragically ended in disaster, with reports emerging of multiple fatalities.
Details are still emerging regarding the precise number of migrant boats that set sail overnight. However, what is known is that several attempts failed, resulting in a heartbreaking loss of life. Early this morning, a large-scale rescue operation was launched both offshore and on the beach of Wimereux. At least five migrants have lost their lives in this harrowing ordeal.
Among the survivors pulled from the treacherous waters, emergency services rescued the father of a 4-year-old girl who was found in tears on the beach. The young girl is said to be in critical condition, highlighting the grave risks undertaken by migrants in pursuit of safety and security.
At the scene, a significant rescue effort is underway, with three Samu helicopters and rescue boats mobilised for ongoing search and rescue operations. The French navy’s intervention tug, the “Abeille Normandie,” has already retrieved approximately a hundred migrants from the perilous waters, with plans to transport them to the port of Boulogne.
Meanwhile, in Wimereux, emergency services from Boulogne, Calais, and Dunkirk, along with dozens of firefighters, are on high alert. The forecasted arrival of around 200 additional migrants at Wimereux station further underscores the gravity of the situation.
The mild weather conditions may have encouraged migrants to attempt the crossing, but the inherent dangers of such journeys are all too evident. Tragically, this is not the first time that the shores of Wimereux have witnessed such loss. In January, four migrants lost their lives near the same beach in a similar attempt to reach safety.
As authorities continue their operations, our thoughts are with the victims and their families, and with the ongoing efforts to prevent further tragedies of this nature.
