Drowning migrants told to call 999 by French officials

French authorities told drowning migrants they were in British waters and to call 999 during the worst disaster of its kind in the English Channel, documents have revealed.

- LIZZIE DEARDEN

A dossier of evidence compiled by lawyers acting for the families of 32 people who died when their dinghy sank last November shows passengers made desperate calls for help for more than two hours.

Logs published by the Le Monde newspaper indicate that they tried to contact both French and English rescue services, but were not rescued before the captain of a private boat reported bodies floating in the water in the strait of Calais - 12 hours after the first mayday call on 24 November 2021.

The account only covers the response by French authorities, because logs and other evidence from the British coastguard are subject to a separate investigation that has not yet published its findings. The first call to the French coastguard was recorded at 1.51am local time when a passenger stayed on the phone for 14 minutes begging for help for more than 30 people on board the inflatable boat. "We need help, if you please, help us," the man was recorded saying.