No one came to our rescue: Inquiry told of terror aboard sinking boat

AN inquiry into the deadliest Channel crossing on record heard that “no one came to the rescue” of migrants on board a sinking boat, despite repeated distress calls to UK authorities.

- Ananhita Hossein-Pour

Sir Ross Cranston is leading a probe into the inflatable boat tragedy in November 2021.

At least 27 people died and four remain missing, although French authorities believe 33 people, including eight children, might have been on board. Two survived.

The inquiry, which opened yesterday, heard the boat, referred to as Charlie, left the French coast shortly after 10pm on November 23.

UK authorities received the first distress call at 1.30am, made by a 16-year-old Iraqi Kurdish boy, who later died. When he rang again at 2.30am, he was told to stop calling as help was on the way, the hearing was told. Another call was made at 3.11am and no attempt was made to obtain an updated position.