Exclusive footage has revealed a scene of 'complete chaos' on board a dangerously overloaded dinghy crossing the English Channel this morning, with migrants resorting to using orange Nike trainers in a desperate attempt to bail out water.
A Desperate Struggle for Survival
The video, obtained by the Daily Mail, shows the packed vessel, carrying men, women, and children, getting into serious difficulty as it made its way towards Britain. Leaders on the boat could be heard screaming 'sit down, sit down' as panic began to set in.
With water flooding the bottom of the boat, those on board were seen frantically passing around the bright orange trainers to scoop it out. Several migrants were wearing life jackets, crammed on the floor and hanging over the edges of the heavily laden dinghy, which a source described as being 'dangerously close to sinking'.
Border Force Stretched on 'Extremely Busy' Day
The incident occurred on what has been described as an 'extremely busy' day for crossings, with clear and calm waters in the Channel providing a window for people smugglers. Sources state that around 500 migrants were attempting the journey today, prompting the UK's Border Force to deploy all five of its vessels.
Several so-called 'superdinghys' were launched from northern France, with some having already arrived in Dover by 9.30am. A source based in Dover confirmed the scale of the operation, stating: 'Every Border Force vessel is out this morning on the migrant situation. It's chaos out there.'
Ruthless Smugglers and a Busy Weekend Ahead
The perilous situation aboard the sinking boat has highlighted the ruthless tactics employed by people smuggling gangs. One source said: 'It shows just how utterly ruthless the smugglers are and how they will stop at nothing to make their profit when a window for crossings becomes available.'
With favourable weather conditions forecast to continue, sources warn that Sunday and Monday are also expected to be very busy days for crossings, potentially leading to thousands of arrivals before Christmas. The Dover source added: 'It's going to be very manic.'
