A small boat overloaded with migrants became stranded on a sandbank in shallow waters off a French beach early Thursday morning, with video evidence showing French authorities observing the situation without intervening. The incident occurred on a beach at Neufchatel-Hardelot, near Boulogne, around 1:30 a.m. local time.
Witnesses reported that the dinghy, estimated to be carrying approximately 80 passengers, ran aground in water less than two feet deep with minimal waves. Journalist Christian Drogan, who recorded the events, stated that French police did not act to prevent the migrants from eventually re-launching the vessel and setting off towards the UK coast. "With the boat stuck in the sand, it would have been totally safe for the French authorities to puncture it," Drogan said. "All the passengers would have been safe. Instead they did what they almost always do - nothing."
Footage from the scene depicted migrants shouting and fighting amongst themselves as they attempted to free the boat from the sandbank. At one point, one young man was reportedly thrown from the boat into the water. Paramedics were later seen attempting to resuscitate one injured migrant on the beach, though it remains unclear if the injury was sustained during the fights or another incident.
The dinghy was described as one of the newer, larger "super dinghies" capable of carrying over 100 people. The beach, frequented by swimmers and bathers during the day, was reportedly crowded with migrants awaiting nightfall to attempt their departure.
The incident occurred just over 24 hours after the new Prime Minister Andy Burnham defended his government's approach to the Channel crisis, asserting that statistics indicated "the plan is working" and that boat crossings were significantly down year-on-year. However, reports indicated that over 700 migrants landed in the UK in a single day following his remarks.
Conservative shadow home office minister Chris Philp, who has visited the French coast, claimed to have been informed by a French officer that there were orders not to intervene to stop migrant boats. Official figures suggest that the average cost to the British taxpayer for each Channel migrant during their first year in the UK is approximately £40,000, with many remaining dependent on state support for extended periods.