Record number of small boats migrants make Channel crossing in ONE DAY with rescue mission launched
A RECORD number of small boat migrants have made the Channel crossing in one day - with a rescue mission launched.
Some 755 people were detected crossing the English Channel in small boats yesterday - the highest tally so far this year.
Over 100,000 people have made the dangerous crossing in small boats since 2018.
The previous record day this year was on July 7 when 686 people were rescued in 13 inflatables.
Yesterday RNLI vessels scrambled to an "emergency incident" in the Dover Strait - after passengers on a small boat "plunged into the sea".
Three dinghies were intercepted making the desperate bid to cross the 21-mile Dover Straits before weather conditions began to deteriorate.
Read More UK News
Border Force vessel Typhoon was seen bringing one group - mainly young men - into the harbour at the port of Dover.
On Thursday boats were pictured at sea packed with people.
Men could be seen straddling the inflatable sides of the flimsy dinghies with their legs hovering over the water as they waved to passing boats.
One inflatable is understood to have taken on water and sunk sparking a rescue bid to save around 14 people who went into the water.
Most read in The Sun
All were found safe and well.
The RNLI said: "Yesterday morning all-weather RNLI lifeboats from Dover, Ramsgate and Dungeness, along with Littlestone RNLI’s inshore lifeboat, were tasked to an incident in the Channel by HM Coastguard.
"On arrival at the scene, some casualties were found to be in the water.
"All casualties are believed to be accounted for and were brought to safety by the RNLI’s volunteer crews."
Thursday's record figure takes the number of people known to have made the crossing so far this year to 15,826 in 340 boats.
Last year saw a record 45,755 people make the journey - 60 per cent higher than 2021 when 28,526 migrants arrived in the UK.
In 2020 there were 8,410 people intercepted.