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Loss of life was avoidable in worst small boat disaster in Channel, inquiry finds
The inquiry found systemic failures and overloaded unsafe craft caused avoidable deaths in the deadliest English Channel small boat crossing, urging an end to such crossings.
- On 24 November 2021, a small inflatable capsized during a Channel crossing with 27 bodies recovered and four missing; only two of at least 33 people survived nearly 12 hours after distress calls.
- People smugglers supplied an unsafe inflatable overloaded with at least 33 people, HM Coastguard faced chronic staff shortages contributing to rescue failures, and the French warship Flamant did not respond to the Mayday call.
- At around 1.30am, Mubin Rizghar Hussein made the first distress call, HM Coastguard broadcast a Mayday at 2.27am, and a French fishing boat found bodies at around 12.30pm.
- The inquiry concluded that an adequate daylight search on 24 November would have saved more lives, and 18 recommendations were made to improve UK search-and-rescue, highlighting systematic failures and resourcing gaps.
- Sir Ross Cranston's report called the deaths `avoidable` and urged an end to crossings, with 367 rescued and 757 arriving in the UK after crossings on November 24.
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Total News Sources22
Leaning Left5Leaning Right4Center10Last UpdatedBias Distribution53% Center
Bias Distribution
- 53% of the sources are Center
53% Center
L 26%
C 53%
R 21%
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