French ‘refused to help as 27 drowned’

FRENCH coastguards were last night accused of refusing to help 27 migrants who drowned in the Channel, ignoring as many as 15 calls as they begged for their lives.

A leaked report by French police said Calais coastguards could face criminal charges for ‘failing to help people in danger’ and called for further investigation.

The papers, reported by Le Monde, said the French failed to tell Britain the boat carrying 29 migrants was in distress and sinking on November 2 , 2021. Just two survived.

As a result, the British prioritised three other boats, saving 98 migrants that night.

French emergency services, when called by the migrants, mistakenly thought they were in UK waters and did not send help.