In total, 200 people were rescued in four separate operations by state resources deployed at sea.
In 24 hours, 200 shipwrecked people were rescued and brought back to land. The maritime prefecture of the Channel and the North Sea indicates that it saved a large number of people in four different operations during the night of Friday 13 until Saturday 14 September.
The first consisted of helping 55 people on board a boat “in poor condition” in the Portel sector. The Cross Gris-Nez deployed significant resources after being informed of the presence of a migrant boat.
Subsequently, 61 other people were picked up by the gendarmerie launch Maronie off the coast of La Becque d’Hardelot.
In a third operation, 48 people were rescued by the Ridens near the old Walde lighthouse. However, 25 other passengers did not want assistance and remained on board their boat to continue their journey. They were finally picked up in the English zone.
Finally, at the end of the day this Saturday, customs patrolman Jacques Oudart Fourmentin rescued 36 people.
A historically deadly year 2024
The maritime prefecture added that 18 attempted boat departures were monitored by the Cross Gris Nez over the course of the day.
This major day of rescue comes a few days after a deadly shipwreck that cost the lives of more than ten people on Tuesday, September 3. The year 2024 is already historically deadly in the Channel.
